There has been lots of talk about the favorites for the Academy Awards, but the Golden Raspberry Awards – or Razzies – recently put out is nominations for the worst movies and performances in Hollywood. The winners of Worst Movie, actor, actress, supporting actor and actress, as well as some specialty categories such as Worst Remake, Ripoff, or Sequel, and Worst Screen Combo, will be presented on Feb. 23, the night before the Oscars.

John Travolta
John Travolta played the lead role in the film “Gotti,” which got terrible reviews. (Image: Oasis Films)

The Razzies were the creation of UCLA film graduates and film industry veterans John J.B. Wilson and Mo Murphy in 1981. The first edition was held in the living room of Wilson’s home.

This year one voting member of the Razzies accused Wilson of rigging the process, and picking whoever he wanted. Wilson denied the allegations.

“We did have technical difficulties about a day or two into the voting, when a safety certificate expired that prevented us from accessing the results. It was resolved at the last moment,” Wilson said “We were able to get a final tally that does not agree with what this person was posting. He was very disgruntled and wants to cause us trouble. If that’s his agenda, he is living it out very clearly.”

And The Winner is …

Wilson isn’t concerned with the controversy and it shouldn’t detract from the 39th edition of the awards. There certainly was a dearth of viable candidates.

In the Worst Movie Category, the biopic on mobster John Gotti is the favorite at +110, according to internet oddsmakers Bovada. The film about Sherlock Holmes entitled “Holmes and Watson,” is second at +160. Other nominees are “The Happytime Murders” (+450), “Robin Hood” (+700), and “Winchester” (+1000).

Gotti was universally panned by film critics. Glenn Kenny of the New York Times wrote: “The long-gestating crime drama “Gotti” is a dismal mess in which the director Kevin Connolly has come up with the wrong answers to the question “What would Martin Scorsese do?”

The Worst Actor and Actress have strong contenders as well. John Travolta is nominated as John Gotti, but he shares the top pick with President Donald Trump, who was in two films, “Death of a Nation” and “Fahrenheit 11/9.”

They are both at +150. Bruce Willis in “Death Wish” is at +500, as is Johnny Depp, whose voice was nominated in Sherlock Gnomes. Will Ferrell is +700 for his role in “Holmes and Watson.”

Actress Melissa McCarthy was nominated for two performances, “The Happytime Murders” and “Life of the Party.” She is at -220. Jennifer Garner in “Peppermint” is at +300, and Amanda Seyfried in “The Clapper” is at +600.

Other Bombs Up for Awards

One of the more popular categories in recent years is Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel. “Holmes and Watson” is a slight favorite at +125 over “Death of a Nation,” which is at +130. Robin Hood is the third pick at +550.

The Razzies took a swipe at Trump when they nominated him for Worst Screen Combo, pairing him with his pettiness in “Death of a Nation,” and “Fahrenheit 11/9.” He is at +125 to win that category.

Ferrell and John C. Reilly are next at +225 in “Holmes and Watson,” and Kelly Preston and Travolta are at +500 for “Gotti.”