As a film enthusiast who has witnessed the ebb and flow of Hollywood’s stars over the years, I find myself both intrigued and saddened by the trajectories of Jared Leto and Jon Voight. Both actors have graced our screens with memorable performances, but their later roles seem to be more about headlines than artistry.
Great acting can be characterized in various ways, with some advocating for adherence to techniques such as the Stanislavski Method or Chekhov’s principles. Others look towards distinctive styles that were popular during specific periods of film history, like the common style in 1940s American cinema. However, not all methods lead to stellar performances; some result in performances that are critically panned and may even earn nominations for the infamous Razzie Award for worst actor, particularly among male performers.
As a gamer, I must admit that the recent years have seen this award ceremony face criticism for honoring simple and unimaginative choices. It doesn’t make things better when you consider its past instances of transphobic and body-shaming remarks. However, if there’s one thing the Razzies still manage to do effectively, it’s preserving a time capsule – a snapshot, if you will – of those movies and performances that captivated the internet meme culture for a brief moment in time.
The most notoriously bad actors who have won the Razzies in the past ten years serve as an illustration. Despite the fact that it’s long overdue for this award ceremony to be discontinued, these poor performances managed to unite users on IMDb, Twitter, and Letterboxd alike, and even earned them Razzie “awards.” By examining the last 10 winners of the worst actor Razzie, one can acknowledge a few male performances that will likely not be regarded as exemplary demonstrations of great acting in the future.
Kirk Cameron in Saving Christmas
A common theme in contemporary Razzie events is granting ‘Worst Actor’ and ‘Worst Movie’ awards to conservative personalities who appear in exceptionally poor films. This practice appears to be designed to show the Razzies as taking a progressive stance in history. However, this tactic isn’t particularly successful in its implementation. Firstly, these awards tend to increase media coverage for figures like Donald Trump and Dinesh D’Souza. Secondly, the Razzies sometimes employ derogatory terminology in their nominations that mirrors language used by these same political figures themselves.
Despite changing times, this tradition continues, and one early manifestation of it was granting Kirk Cameron the “Worst Actor” award for his 2014 holiday production “Saving Christmas.” Known for his roles in “Growing Pains,” Cameron has spent most of his adult career leading some of the worst Christian films you could think of, like the irritating 2008 film “Fireproof.” This includes “Saving Christmas,” where Cameron attempts to persuade his fictional brother-in-law in a car that excessive commercialization during Christmas is beneficial. The movie features hip hop dancing, empty calls for action, and discussions on conspiracy theories.
Following a wave of unfavorable criticisms, “Saving Christmas” earned numerous Razzies that year, including the title of worst picture. Given the poor reception, it’s unsurprising that Cameron was also awarded the worst actor prize for one of 2014’s most panned movies. Interestingly, this was his first nomination for the worst actor category despite his appearances in other previously criticized films. It seems unlikely that he’ll be displaying this trophy alongside his Kids’ Choice Award.
Jamie Dornan in Fifty Shades of Grey
Jamie Dornan’s win as worst actor for “Fifty Shades of Grey” symbolizes the Razzies choosing quick, internet-friendly wins that later turn sour, like milk left out in the Texas sun. In 2015, “Fifty Shades of Grey” was a global joke despite its box office success, and the performances of leads Dornan and Dakota Johnson were initially ridiculed. However, similarly to the cast of “Twilight,” Dornan and Johnson have since built intriguing careers beyond the franchise that catapulted them to fame.
As a devoted admirer, I’d like to highlight Jamie Dornan’s remarkable journey in the world of acting. This year alone, he’s earned recognition for his exceptional dramatic performance in “Belfast,” landing several best supporting actor nominations. His versatility is truly astounding, as he’s proven himself not only in comedy with “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” but also in gripping dark crime thrillers, portraying a chilling serial killer in “The Fall.
Despite Jamie Dornan going to extensive measures to dodge criticism for “Fifty Shades of Grey,” his portrayal in the movie wasn’t met with favorable reviews when it was released. However, considering the initially harsh reactions, awarding him the title of worst actor over Johnny Depp in “Mortdecai” or Adam Sandler in “Pixels” seems remarkably narrow-minded.
Dinesh D’Souza in Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party
In a regrettable turn of events, it’s worth noting that The Academy has consistently overlooked documentaries when it comes to the prestigious Best Picture Oscar. This persistent oversight seems to underscore a lack of recognition and appreciation for this vital cinematic form within the broader film industry. Moreover, the infrequent inclusion of documentaries in other categories such as Best Cinematography or Best Editing serves to further solidify this unfortunate trend.
Instead of the Razzies awkwardly attempting to incorporate and honor a documentary, which is unusual, they did so during their equivalent to best actor at the 37th Golden Raspberry Awards. Dinesh D’Souza was given the worst actor award for his role in “Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party,” despite it being confusing since a documentary subject portraying themselves isn’t typically found in a category usually reserved for actors starring in narrative films.
This was part of a slew of wins bestowed on “Hillary’s America” at this ceremony, with the film also taking home awards like worst picture. This marked the first time D’Souza’s specific brand of right-wing conspiracy theory documentaries scored worst picture recognition. Previous D’Souza titles “2016: Obama’s America” and “America: Imagine The World Without Her” failed to break into either the picture or actor categories. D’Souza later claimed that the Razzie nominations and wins for “Hillary’s America” were actually beneficial to him. Presumably, he did not say the same thing about the dismal box office figures for his 2024 documentary, “Vindicating Trump.”
Tom Cruise in The Mummy
At the 9th Golden Raspberry Awards, Tom Cruise received a worst actor nomination for the film “Cocktail.” This was one of three Razzie nominations for him, with an unexpected one being for his lead role in the critically acclaimed 2005 Steven Spielberg movie “War of the Worlds.” His third nomination, for portraying the character Nick Morton in “The Mummy,” marked his first victory in this category at the Razzies.
2017 saw the release of a film, “The Mummy,” that kick-started and concluded the Dark Universe. Tom Cruise’s performance in this production didn’t ignite the same fervor among viewers as his other well-known blockbuster roles. Instead, it appeared as though Cruise was going through the motions in “The Mummy.” This was surprising given that he had substantial input in the movie’s direction.
Despite numerous attempts to fix it, “The Mummy” couldn’t be saved, given its abysmal quality. However, the issues with this poorly executed Alex Kurtzman film were not just Tom Cruise’s performance-related. The movie also suffered from dull direction, a scarcity of scary moments, and excessive world creation, which combined to sink this commercial disaster at the box office. Despite Cruise not being solely responsible for the failure of “The Mummy,” he was awarded the worst actor Razzie due to preexisting negative sentiment towards him. If it brings any comfort to Cruise, the “Mummy” trailer, devoid of music or sound effects, still manages to be both amusing and terrifying. Few other Razzie-winning films can boast such a comedic legacy.
Donald Trump in Death of a Nation and Fahrenheit 11/9
It’s clear that American pop culture hasn’t been particularly critical when it comes to Donald Trump’s rise to power. Given the apparent fascism he represents, one might expect cinema institutions and awards shows to take notice and showcase more outstanding works from marginalized communities targeted by Trump and his allies, such as “Kokomo City” or “Crip Camp.” However, what we’ve mostly seen is lukewarm critiques on late-night talk shows or casual jabs like the “nasty woman” reference in films like “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
At the 39th Golden Raspberry Awards, another instance of cringe-worthy cultural protests arose when the event yet again bestowed the title of Worst Actor upon a documentary subject. This time, it was Donald Trump, who portrayed himself in “Death of a Nation” and “Fahrenheit 11/9.” Directors Dinesh D’Souza and Michael Moore utilized an abundance of archival footage featuring Trump, which the Razzies cited as grounds for his Worst Actor nomination and eventual victory.
The entire incident was extremely odd and didn’t seem to be a fair criticism of Trump, given that he won over other nominees such as John Travolta in “Gotti” and Will Ferrell in “Holmes and Watson.” This former television personality stirred up controversy, with questions about the validity of the nomination process arising. Some heavily voted worst actor candidates were not even nominated, fueling suspicions of a rigged system. The Razzie award given to Trump for his work in two documentaries added to a tumultuous and contentious year for this awards show.
John Travolta in The Fanatic/Trading Paint
The history between the Razzies and John Travolta dates back even further than their long-standing dislike of Tom Cruise. As early as the 4th Razzie awards, Travolta was nominated for worst actor due to his performances in “Staying Alive” and “Two of a Kid.” Since then, he has been a frequent winner at these ceremonies, taking home the worst actor award in 2001 for his roles in “Lucky Numbers” and the critically panned “Battlefield Earth,” which significantly impacted Travolta’s acting career. More recently, in 2019, he was awarded another worst actor Razzie for his films “The Fanatic” and “Trading Paint.” If these titles don’t sound familiar, it’s likely because they were primarily distributed through Redbox kiosks rather than traditional theaters.
For decades, the over-the-top, campy, and frequently criticized acting style of Travolta has been a favorite target for the Razzies. It’s hard to imagine his off-putting delivery of lines like “your friendly bartender” not earning such ridicule. The peculiar and uncomfortable performance that Travolta gave as Moose in “The Fanatic” was particularly deserving of criticism from the Razzies. With his distinctive hairstyle, caricatured portrayal of mannerisms often associated with autistic individuals, and truly dreadful line deliveries, his performance was widely panned by critics. Despite Travolta’s continued pride in his work as Moose, the harsh criticism his performances in “The Fanatic” and “Trading Paint” received made another Razzie win almost certain.
Mike Lindell in Absolute Proof
When movie theaters closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the entire film industry underwent a massive transformation. Holding traditional award season events after such disruption and unusual release methods seemed impractical. However, major events like the Academy Awards and the Razzies continued, showing resilience amidst hardship. With a limited selection of new films to pick from in 2020 and early 2021, the 41st Golden Raspberry Awards selected “Absolute Proof” as the worst movie released during that period.
The right-wing political film, “Absolute Proof,” earned Mike Lindell, or the “My Pillow Guy” known for backing Donald Trump, a dubious award for worst performance. Despite being in the category of movies released during the first year post-March 2020, “Absolute Proof” was hardly a well-known title. This documentary rehashed numerous discredited and false allegations regarding tampering in the 2020 Presidential election, but failed to spark even a trend of viewers seeking controversy.
At present, “Absolute Proof” doesn’t have a page on Letterboxd and it has garnered about 1,000 ratings from IMDb users. Surprisingly, despite its lack of popularity, the actor, Lindell, who features prominently in “Absolute Proof,” was awarded the worst actor prize, over Robert Downey Jr. in “Dolittle” and David Spade in “The Wrong Missy”, among others. Considering the challenging decision regarding the worst actor category at this awards event, it would have been prudent for the Razzies to suspend their annual ceremony during this COVID-affected year.
LeBron James in Space Jam: A New Legacy
In summer 2021, as movie theaters were making a comeback, the film “Space Jam: A New Legacy” premiered in cinemas, offering a disheartening portrayal on the big screen of late capitalism’s extravagance and woefully poor comedy writing. The negative reviews for “A New Legacy” mirrored its extremely negative cultural standing, with particular criticism directed at the acting of LeBron James.
Following his impressive comic timing in Judd Apatow’s “Trainwreck” in 2015, James faced significant challenges convincingly acting alongside animated co-stars in “A New Legacy.” Even the original director of “Space Jam” was critical of the sequel and James’ performance specifically. After enduring numerous mockeries for months, it was only a matter of time before the Razzies, an organization that honors the worst films of each year, acknowledged the leading role in “Space Jam: A New Legacy.
Although Netflix’s musical “Diana” won the worst picture and director awards that year, LeBron James’ acting in “Space Jam: A New Legacy” garnered the worst actor prize. Despite strong competition from Mark Wahlberg’s lackluster performance in “Infinite” and Ben Platt’s controversial portrayal of a high schooler in “Dear Evan Hansen,” LeBron emerged victorious. Since the release of “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” which received harsh criticism, James has not taken on any more leading roles. It might be for the best, as cinema may struggle to handle a performance as poor as his in “A New Legacy.
Jared Leto in Morbius
There’s a massive gulf between how Hollywood views Jared Leto and the general public’s perception of the man. Movie studios and producers keep handing Leto leading man roles in tentpoles (including 2025’s “Tron: Ares”) while supporting his “Method acting” process. Meanwhile, Leto has no box office clout among typical moviegoers, and his bizarre off-screen exploits, like starting an island “cult,” have overshadowed any discussion of his artistry.
Throughout the film, Leto consistently delivers underwhelming performances, as demonstrated by his stiff and uninspiring portrayal of Dr. Michael Morbius in “Morbius.” This Marvel Comics character is devoid of any unique qualities or entertaining quirks. His portrayal is oddly somber, a tone that clashes significantly with the superficial “Morbius” screenplay.
The reviews for “Morbius” on Rotten Tomatoes were like a fatal blow to the movie. A significant portion of the criticism was aimed at Jared Leto’s acting, which was so poor that it won him a Razzie award for worst actor in 2022. This was surprising because only a few years earlier, he had won an Oscar for best supporting actor for “Dallas Buyers Club” and was also nominated for the same category in various award shows for “House of Gucci.” Despite this significant drop in recognition during award season, Leto’s reputation in Hollywood has not changed to reflect his lower standing with the general public.
Jon Voight in Mercy
Jon Voight was once known for his deep meaning and impactful roles, particularly in projects like “Midnight Cowboy” under challenging circumstances, where he gave outstanding performances as late as 1997’s “Rosewood” directed by John Singleton. However, examine his movie career in the 21st century, and it seems that Voight has often starred in truly dreadful films such as “Bratz,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “Roe v. Wade,” and a multitude of others.
“One of Richard Voight’s less-remembered performances in contemporary films is the 2023 direct-to-video release titled ‘Mercy,’ a crime thriller featuring the Irish mafia, with Jonathan Rhys Meyers portraying Voight’s onscreen son. Despite receiving few positive reviews, ‘Mercy’ was not widely viewed, even in comparison to other movies of Voight’s that have been heavily criticized in recent years.
In 2023, among all the contenders for the Worst Actor Razzie Award, few would have predicted that Voight would be the one to receive it. However, despite missing out on the award for his performance in “Anaconda” previously, he eventually won the infamous prize for his role in “Mercy.” At 85 years old, this made him the oldest winner of the Worst Actor Razzie. Some might argue that giving a vocal Trump supporter like Voight an award for such a little-known movie was another instance of the Razzies seeking political relevance. Regardless of the motivation, receiving even a Worst Actor Award at a derided event like the Razzies served as a stark reminder of how far Voight had declined in his artistic career.
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2024-11-04 20:31