Sony; Universal; 20th Century Fox; HBOLest the American public get too wrapped up in Awards Season and debating the best movies of the year, the annual Golden Raspberry Awards are here to remind us that 2014's cinema landscape also included a lot of crap. This morning, the Razzies dropped its list of nominees for the worst in filmmaking, ahead of this year's big 35th anniversary show.
Contrary to, say, the Globes or the Oscars, the Razzies have basically no requirements for recognition—besides totally cringe-worthy acting, special effects, and storylines. Every year the awards show allows us to have a good laugh at the expense of awesomely bad performances, but (since we're feeling generous) it's important to note that most of the nominees don't live in Razzie-land forever. Almost all of the called-out actors and actresses will eventually redeem themselves, and most of them have some pretty stellar past performances under their belt. (Except for you, Sylvestor Stallone: 30 Razzie nominations is pretty much a pattern.)
As such, we've decided to call out this year's Best Actor and Best Actress nominees not just for their movies that totally sucked, but for the roles we actually really loved. Because let's be honest, even the biggest A-listers can't be perfect every single time. Here's looking at you, Sandy Bullock.
Kirk Cameron, Nominated for Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas
Quality Role: Growing Pains
OK, we admit this one's a bit of a stretch, but we're never going to back down from a challenge. It's been years since Kirk Cameron's done anything that doesn't make us cringe, but it would be bad journalism to ignore the '80s stalwart that was Growing Pains. Before Kirk Cameron was Left Behind, he was a dreamboat.
Nicolas Cage, Nominated for Left Behind
Quality Role: City of Angels
These days Nic Cage mostly stays relevant thanks to disparaging memes and dedicated blogs, but there was a time when he was less cheesy-disaster-movie-with-awkwardly-religious-overtones and more deeply-emotional-romance-opposite-Meg-Ryan-at-the-height-of-her-fame. He really made us believe in that dead angel, you guys.
Kellan Lutz, Nominated for The Legend of Hercules
Quality Role: The Comeback
It's easy to write off Kellan Lutz as just a pretty face and an even prettier body, but he's actually on Lisa Kudrow's totally legit show. His association with such genius, self-deprecating humor is (almost) enough to forgive the obliviousness of Hercules.
Seth MacFarlane, Nominated for A Million Ways To Die In The West
Quality Role: Ted
It should be noted that we're giving Seth MacFarlane an A for effort with A Million Ways. His ability to recruit exactly three hundred A-listers to appear in a not-funny-at-all movie is impressive. The same goes for Ted (and, presumably, the upcoming Ted 2), except that Ted was actually inventive.
Adam Sandler, Nominated for Blended
Quality Role: Funny People
Remember that time Adam Sandler was in a sensitive, insightful movie that also made you laugh? Let's get back to that.
Drew Barrymore, Nominated for Blended
Quality Role: Grey Gardens
Barrymore's done a lot that was far more suited to her than Blended, but we prefer the shut-in, hoarder version of Drew.
Cameron Diaz, Nominated for The Other Woman & Sex Tape
Quality Role: The Sweetest Thing
2014 was especially rough for Ol' Cam. We're choosing not to remember her as a shockingly anti-feminist sex trope, but as the awesomely in-your-face and self-aware Christina from The Sweetest Thing. Plus, that raunchy song-and-dance-number will forever be the soundtrack to our middle school sleepovers.
Melissa McCarthy, Nominated for Tammy
Quality Role: The Heat
Tammy was such a blip on the radar for McCarthy's stellar career that it's almost not even worth mentioning. (Although, in the interest of full disclosure, we'll admit to cracking up several times during the flick.) Instead, let's all reflect on the comic genius of The Heat.
Charlize Theron, Nominated for A Million Ways To Die In The West
Quality Role: Monster
Charlize Theron is one of those actresses whom we've put in the Good Actresses folder of our minds, but when we scroll through her IMDB page quickly realize she's had quite a lot of blips. But, she's got an Oscar and no one can ever take that away from her.