In Non-Batfleck Related News, Ben Affleck Inspires The Razzies Redeemer Award
One of the biggest arguments against Ben Affleck as Batman was his troubled past. Pearl Harbor. Reindeer Games. Gigli, which earned him two Golden Raspberry Awards from the Razzies, as well as a nomination for worst actor of the decade.
But as his career improved, he made Gone Baby Gone. Then The Town. Just this year he won his second Oscar, this time for Best Picture, for his movie Argo. Now there’s a turnaround that deserves some recognition.
Inspired by Affleck, the Razzies have created the new Redeemer awards, honoring people who went from the worst to the best. According to Razzies founder John Wilson:
“The Razzies were originally meant not only to point out the year’s ‘Worst Achievements in Film,’ but it was also hoped they would also serve as encouragement for each year’s nominees to make better choices on future projects, thus eventually raising the bar of movie-making in general.”‘
So who other than Affleck deserves reconsideration:
- Forest Whitaker, 2000 Worst Supporting Actor Nominee for Battlefield Earth – 2006 Oscar winner & likely 2013 Best Actor nominee for The Butler
- Alan Menken, 1992 Worst Song “winner” for Newsies– 2012 Tony winner for Broadway version of Newsies, and current Emmy nominee
- Michael Douglas 1991 Worst Actor nominee for Basic Instinct and Shining Through – Current Best Actor Emmy nominee for Behind the Candelabra
- Ellen DeGeneres 1996 Worst New Star nominee for Mr. Wrong – Multiple Daytime Emmy winner for Ellen and 2014 Oscar Host
- All-Time Feamle Razzie Champion Madonna, who made certain she’d never “win” another Razzie…by announcing her retirement from the screen!
While the odds on favorite to win such an award is the man who inspired it, there are plenty of other former Razzie winners who deserve a second chance. Who do you think should win a Redeemer Award?