Razzies chief John Wilson & I clash: 'Mommie Dearest' or worstest?
On the eve of this year's Razzie Awards to be bestowed on Feb. 23 (one day before the Oscars, natch), I decided to get into the spirit by razzing the Razzies! I invited HeadRAZZBerry John Wilson to join me at the Hollywood Museum for a sparring match over "Mommie Dearest," which not only swept the Razzies in 1981, "winning" five, including worst picture and actress (the fabulously overcoiffed and overwrought Faye Dunaway, of course), but worst picture of the decade! For shame!
I'm with John Waters, who thinks the film gets a bum rap. In a DVD add-on segment, the great director of "Pink Flamingos" and "Serial Mom" says in all seriousness of "Mommie," "I don't think this is a campy movie. I don't think it's so bad it's good. I think it's so good it's perfect."
By the way, no kidding: Dunaway actually came in second place in the voting for best actress at the New York Film Critics Circle in 1981. She lost by an edge as thin as a wire hanger — 34 points to 36 — to Glenda Jackson ("Stevie"). Imagine if Dunaway had won, then went on to score a Globe and Oscar nomination. Would the film have swept the Razzies? Would it still be remembered as a laughingstock?
John Wilson disagrees with me about "Mommie," but does keep an open mind about other oft-derided flicks. As we toured the museum that day and came upon a display of artifacts from Elizabeth Taylor's "Cleopatra," he said, "I think that movie gets a bum rap. It was really quite well made and literate." Yes! Yes! I agree!
Anyway, it was a good-enough excuse to hook up with Wilson, whose kudos work I admire greatly, and to get him to tell us the story of how he launched Hollywood's most notorious award. Plus to give us some backstage gossip about past ceremonies. Also: what are his favorite "winners" of years past? Surprisingly, he says that he finds only one worst picture winner to be really, really bad. Others may be considered so bad that they're good, of course. But which ones? Watch our video chat below!
Visit the Razzie website, CLICK HERE.
John Wilson is a great guy and the Razzies are a lot of fun! It's a great way to vent our wrath at the worst efforts in films. We dont always agree, but it's democratic. People vote!
Thanks John and Tom!
Posted by: babypook | February 23, 2008 at 11:30 PM
Tom Wilson's opinion is forever tainted in my mind. I guess he thinks he knows more than 34 leading NEW YORK critics. Plus he went on in later years to nominate Dunaway for worst Actress for Albino Alligator and The Chamber, two performances for which she received acclaim. So kudos to Tom O'Neil for this entertaining article and for defending Faye's performance in Mommie Dearest.
Posted by: Todd Carpenter | February 18, 2008 at 03:37 PM
Dear Ms. Adams and Ms. Chenoweth.
Can you two please reinvent what entertainment journalism has become. I mean, don't get me wrong, we LOVE what you people do, except when the focus is on Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie types. You know, people who are celebrities based on their breeding? Why not use your pens, lab tops and cameras towards people who actually CAN sing, act or play a sport - or frankly speaking has TALENT.
Anyways, Paris is getting really, really old. If the media kill her - figuratively speaking - as quick as they "created" her, maybe Hollywood gossip could get back on track.
Should she try anything stupid at the Oscar's "red-carpet" interviews, don't pay no mind or give her any attention whatsoever. As a matter of fact if all of you entertainment journalist could focus on the "working" Hollywood crowd, you know, the Johnny Depps, the Halle Barries, the Hillary Swanks or people who were and are like you and I and "worked" their way into something of a career that puts food on the table. I mean, our youth needs that,as well as our society needs you guys as a breath of fresh air in the midst of a world gone mad.
Posted by: jc | February 17, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Dear Ms. Adams and Ms. Chenoweth.
Can you two please reinvent what entertainment journalism has become. I mean, don't get me wrong, we LOVE what you people do, except when the focus is on Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie types. You know, people who are celebrities based on their breeding? Why not use your pens, lab tops and cameras towards people who actually CAN sing, act or play a sport - or frankly speaking has TALENT.
Anyways, Paris is getting really, really old. If the media kill her - figuratively speaking - as quick as they "created" her, maybe Hollywood gossip could get back on track.
Should she try anything stupid at the Oscar's "red-carpet" interviews, don't pay no mind or give her any attention whatsoever. As a matter of fact if all of you entertainment journalist could focus on the "working" Hollywood crowd, you know, the Johnny Depps, the Halle Barries, the Hillary Swanks or people who were and are like you and I and "worked" their way into something of a career that puts food on the table. I mean, our youth needs that,as well as our society needs you guys as a breath of fresh air in the midst of a world gone mad.
Posted by: jc | February 17, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Casting calls are open for the new movie "Election - 2008." Kevin Spacey was in line to play Huckabee but the producers are considering a change to Larry the Cable Guy....
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/02/14/kevin-spacey-as-mike-huckabee/
Posted by: Ohg Rea Tone | February 17, 2008 at 07:15 AM
"Mommie Dearest" is sort of like "Entertainment Tonight", or Bai Ling, or Nelson Branco.
They're fun to watch for the hot messes that they are, but you can't take them seriously.
Posted by: Al Steele | February 16, 2008 at 06:49 PM
Has anyone ever watched MD and not considered it a comedy?
Posted by: Michael | February 16, 2008 at 05:35 PM
That interview made me really like John Wilson. He seems like a nice, genuine, down-to-earth guy. I may not always agree with his choices, but he has a great sense of humor and has great stories to tell.
Posted by: Jonathan | February 15, 2008 at 07:41 PM