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Bennifer sweep Razzies
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez topped cinema's roll of shame after their mega-flop Gigli swept the Razzie Awards
Former lovers Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez topped cinema's roll of dishonour Saturday after their mega-flop movie "Gigli" swept the Razzie Awards, Hollywood's "Oscars" of shame.
The stinker, a rambling tale of a lesbian hitwoman played by the Latin diva, won the worst film of 2003 trophy at the Golden Raspberry award, or Razzies, Tinseltown's antidote to the Oscars which will be held Sunday.
It also became the first film that was so bad it took all six of the top Razzies, gold-painted plastic trophies handed out at a less-than-glittering ceremony the day before the Oscars, in the awards' 24-year history.
"Gigli," the movie on which the couple known as "Bennifer" first met also scooped the shameful plaudits of worst actress for Lopez, worst actor for Affleck, worst screen couple for "Bennifer" and worst director and screenwriter for Martin Brest.
Affleck was shamed for his roles in "Gigli," "Daredevil" and "Paycheck," and Lopez for her "Gigli" turn alone. In order to win, Affleck fought off ill-esteemed competition including Cuba Gooding Jr. for his roles in "Boat Trip," "Fighting Temptations" and "Radio," as well as Mike Myers for "The Cat in the Hat."
Lopez fought off the likes of Drew Barrymore for "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "Duplex;" Cameron Diaz for "Charlie's Angels;" Angelina Jolie for "Beyond Borders" and "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life."
But Bennifer's shocker "Gigli" went into the annual awards with an unfair advantage: nine nominations, more than the any of the next-worst films of the year, and made good on six of the them.
The once inseparable lovebirds whose every canoodle was followed avidly by the media during their turbulent 16-month relationship that ended in January, were the unequivocal stars of the Razzies show, although they did not turn up to receive the dishonours.
The 34-year-old Lopez is well used to the dark spotlight -- she is an annual recipient of Razzie nominations after starring other movie bombs including "Jersey Girl". But Bennifer had some respite from the unwelcome attention of the Razzie judges who turned their focus to other screen stars in the supporting actor categories.
The worst supporting actor trophy went to screen tough guy Sylvester Stallone, who won his record-breaking 10th Razzie for his appalling turn in the comedy "Spy Kids 3D," while Demi Moore won for her performance as a fallen angel in "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle."
Moore's sction adventure chick flick, also starring Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu, had come to the awards with seven nominations. Funnyman Mike Myers' flop 2003 movie "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat" was singled out for the award for "worst excuse for an actual movie" after winning eight nominations.
The gracious Rzzi trophy award is a handcrafted gold spray-painted golf-ball-sized raspberry atop a mangled reel of Super 8 film, "with an estimated street value of 4.89 dollars," organisers said.
The Razzies were launched by John Wilson 1980, who describes himself as a "lifelong cynic and cine-maniac" as a parody of Hollywood frenzied series of annual awards that culminates in the Oscars. Ballots were sent to the 537 members of his Golden Raspberry Award Foundation in 38 US states and 12 other countries, he said.
