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Ahead of the Oscars, the 42nd annual Golden Raspberry Awards (known as ‘The Razzies’) declaring the year’s least-loved films have been announced, with the Princess Diana Broadway Musical picture sweeping the board. The Netflix adaptation of the Princess’ biopic story won five of the ‘ugly Oscars’, that included: worst picture, worst actress, worst supporting actress, worst director, and worst screenplay.
Performed at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway and closing after 33 performances, the production was filmed during the covid period, and debuted on Netflix in October 2021. It was described by the Razzies as “the all-singing, all-dancing, all-awful, royal mess”.
Diana the Musical received less than flattering reviews upon its release, with Vanity Fair citing the show as:
“A shellacked lump of product born solely of cold, money-minded cynicism.”
Vanity Fair reviewer Richard Lawson also notes that the only social media traction the show received were quoting the meaningless and forced rhymes of lyrics that both appalled and amused in equal measure, including corkers such as the man dying of AIDS who sings:
“I may be unwell, but I’m handsome as hell.”
In a new and special category for 2022, the Razzies created “worst performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 movie”, which comprised of eight of the actor’s movies including: American Siege, Apex, Cosmic Sin, Deadlock, and Out of Death.
Worst picture – Diana the Musical
Worst actor – LeBron James in Space Jam: A New Legacy
Worst actress – Jeanna de Waal in Diana the Musical
Worst supporting actress – Judy Kaye in Diana the Musical
Worst supporting actor – Jared Leto in House of Gucci
Worst performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 movie (Special Category) – Bruce Willis in Cosmic Sin
Worst onscreen couple – LeBron James and Any Warner Cartoon Character in Space Jam: A New Legacy
Worst remake, rip-off or sequel – Space Jam: A New Legacy
Worst director – Christopher Ashley in Diana the Musical
Worst screenplay – Diana the Musical
The Golden Raspberry Awards began in 1981, and started as an impromptu gathering in publicist’s John Wilson’s Hollywood living room. The self-mocking nature of the event gathered momentum, and press coverage, with the awards now being as attended and expected as the Oscars.
A-list actresses Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock both attended previous Razzie ceremonies over the years to receive their awards, even giving acceptance speeches with good humour and class.
While the Razzies find the humour in the films of the moment, the 2018 awards also gave a nod in support of the #MeToo movement. A faux ‘in memoriam’ section of the ceremony featured photos of Harvey Weinstein, Steven Seagal, James Toback, Bill Cosby, Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey, James Franco, Casey Affleck, Russell Simmons, Danny Masterson, Woody Allen, Jeremy Piven, Brett Ratner and more men who have faced allegations of sexual harassment, misconduct or assault. The photos were then proceeded by text that read:
“Very sorry, but we won’t be missing you… or your kind”.
On a high note, the annual ‘redeemer award’ for 2022 went to four-time winner, the wonderful Will Smith, for his role in the film King Richard.
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Michelle is a musician and composer from the UK. She has performed across the UK and Europe and is passionate about arts education and opportunities for women and girls.
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