Madonna, J Lo to fight it out for inverse Oscars

Competing for worst picture are critical flops that include Eddie Murphy’s $85 million down-the-toilet action film The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Madonna’s spoiled wife epic Swept Away, Spears’ wooden screen debut Crossroads and Oscar winner Roberto Benigni’s wooden remake of Pinocchio.

Add to the mix George Lucas’ latest entry in what Razzie organisers call a series from a galaxy far, far too long: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.

In filmdom’s main event, the Academy Awards, the fight for best actress is expected to be particularly tough this year, with nominations expected for Meryl Streep, Renee Zellweger, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore.

The Razzies also are going to be a close fight but in a far worse way. Spears is nominated for Crossroads, Jolie for the box office bomb Life Or Something Like It, Ryder for Mr Deeds Goes to Town, and Lopez has a shot with two films, Enough and Maid in Manhattan.

Murphy in Pluto Nash leads the list for worst actor followed by Benigni for Pinocchio, Adriano Giannini for Swept Away, Steven Seagal in Half Past Dead and previous worst actor winner Adam Sandler of Adam Sandler’s 8 Crazy Nights and Mr Deeds.

In the worst supporting actor category, it’s a fight between Hayden Christensen in the latest Star Wars, Tom Green for Stealing Harvard, Freddie Prinze Jr. for Scooby Doo: Where Are You and Christopher Walken for The Country Bears.

Up for worst supporting actress are Lara Flynn Boyle for Men in Black II, Bo Derek, Master of Disguise, Madonna for her blink-of-an-eye appearance in Die Another Day.

The Razzies are ushering in new category to mark its 23rd annual awards: ‘‘Most Flatulent Teen-Targeted Movie’’ and the nominees are: Adam Sandler’s 8 Crazy Nights, Crossroads, Jackass: The Movie, Scooby Doo and XXX.

Nominees for Worst Screen Couple were: Adriano Giannini and Madonna in Swept Away, Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi in Pinocchio, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman in Star Wars, Eddie Murphy paired with either Robert DeNiro in Showtime, Britney Spears and Anson Mount in Crossroads.

The battle for worst director came down to Benigni for Pinocchio, Tamra Davis for Crossroads, George Lucas for Star Wars Madonna’s husband, Guy Ritchie, for Swept Away and Ron Underwood for The Adventures of Pluto Nash.

The Razzies are handed out on March 22 or, as the organisers like to say, ‘‘24 hours before hat other awards show, aka the giving out of the little gold naked men.’’ (Reuters)