Winning an Oscar doesn’t necessarily mean one person is more talented than the other. But it’s a solid indication that they are one of the best at what they do. Having said that, there are heaps of acclaimed talents out there who have been totally snubbed by The Academy Awards. There are also many talents in Hollywood who have been unjustly awarded a Razzie Award. The Razzie Awards are a tongue-in-cheek awards ceremony that celebrates the worst films, actors, and filmmakers of the year. The first ceremony was held in 1981 and they have been held annually ever since. The categories include Worst Picture, Worst Actor, Worst Actress, Worst Director, amongst others.
The winners are chosen by a group of around 1,000 voters, who are members of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation. The Razzies are often seen as a humorous counterpoint to the more serious Academy Awards, which are held around the same time. While some people criticize the Razzies for being mean-spirited and overly negative, others see them as a fun way to poke fun at the worst aspects of the film industry. Here’s three stars who have won both an Oscar and a Razzie on the same weekend.
Halle Berry
Halle Berry‘s performances have been an eclectic mix of major hits and major misses when it comes to critical acclaim. And one particular year saw her tread across both grounds simultaneously. Berry made history in 2002 when she won both an Academy Award and a Razzie Award on the same weekend.
Berry won the Best Actress Oscar for her electrifying performance in Monster’s Ball, becoming the first African American woman to win the award. However, she also won the Razzie Award for Worst Actress for her role in the film Catwoman. Berry famously attended the Razzie Awards ceremony the night before the Oscars and gave a humorous speech in which she thanked the “people who voted for me”. Despite the Razzie win, Berry’s Oscar win was widely praised and marked a significant moment for diversity in Hollywood.
Sandra Bullock
John Lee Hancock‘s sports drama, The Blind Side, saw Sandra Bullock win the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2010. The film tells the story of Leigh Anne Tuohy, a wealthy white woman who takes in Michael Oher, a homeless black teenager. After warming to the introverted hidden talent, she helps him achieve his dreams of playing football. Bullock’s performance was widely praised for its emotional depth and authenticity, and she won numerous awards for her work in the film. The Oscar win was particularly meaningful for Bullock, as it was not only her first Oscar win, but her first nomination.
Bullock’s Oscar win was overcast by a Worst Actress win at The Razzie Awards that same weekend for her role in All About Steve. But she refused to let The Razzies rain on her parade. On the evening of the awards, Bullock showed up to the Razzie ceremony accompanied by three supporters. They were all wearing ‘Team Bullock’ t-shirts and carrying All About Steve DVDs. She then addressed the crowd, assuming that no one had really seen the film. She said, “This is the deal we are going to make. You swear to revisit the film and thoughtfully analyse whether this truly was the worst performance. I’ll return the following year and give you back the Razzie if you’re willing to watch it.”
Brian Helgeland
Brian Helgeland is a screenwriter, director, and producer who has worked on a number of iconic films throughout his storied career. He is perhaps best known for his work on the 1997 film L.A. Confidential, which he adapted from the James Ellroy novel of the same name. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning numerous awards and nominations, including an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Helgeland.
During that same year, Helgeland penned the script for two more movies – Conspiracy Theory starring Mel Gibson, and Kevin Costner‘s The Postman. While Conspiracy Theory was received rather warmly, the same wasn’t true for The Postman. Following on from his Oscar-winning epic, Dances With Wolves, critics were expecting big things from Costner with The Postman. But sadly, the film was nominated for five Razzies. Costner took home Worst Director, and Helgeland was graced with the Worst Screenplay Award.
Despite its poor reception, the film has developed a cult following over the years. Some cinephiles now appreciate its ambitious scope and epic storytelling. However, most critics maintain their stance that the film is bloated, poorly written, and lacking in both substance and style. Luckily for Helgeland, his Oscar win overshadowed his Razzie award that same weekend. He went on to write movies like Mystic River, Man on Fire, and Legend starring Tom Hardy.