Scott's World -- UPI Arts & Entertainment

HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Those nuts and bolts at The Golden Raspberry Award Foundation are fomenting more Bronx cheers for Hollywood's worst films and hapless stars.

This week John Wilson, the organization's ringleader, has mailed official nominating ballots to the ragtag membership of some 500 film buffs, critics, industry workers and reviewers.

There are nine categories in all with from seven to 12 recommended candidates in each for the (dis)honor of being nominated for the worst of the year. The choices leave many in each category that aren't quite as awful as those that DO get the disheartening nomination.

Final nominees will be announced Feb. 11 with the eventual winners in each category being announced March 23 at the annual Golden Raspberry Awards festivities. While there are numerous Oscar nomination possibilities, there are many more losers out there.

It is worth noting that in the eyes of the Razzie nominating committee "Pearl Harbor" must be the clunker of the year.

In addition to being an odds-on favorite nominee for worst picture of 2001, "Pearl Harbor" landed nominee possibilities in eight of the nine Razzie categories. It did not have a candidate for worst supporting actress.

The most outrageous category of the bunch in this opaque squint at Hollywood's most pathetic, dismal and God-awful movies is worst screen couple.

For this year's nominations the committee has come up with a typical selection of zany couplings:

Ben Affleck and either Kate Beckinsale or Josh Harnett in "Pearl Harbor."

Any two computer generated image characters in "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within."

Nicolas Cage & Penelope Cruz ("Captain Corelli's Mandolin").

Mariah Carey's cleavage in "Glitter."

Tom Cruise & Penelope Cruz in "Vanilla Sky."

David Duchovny's lower cleavage in "Evolution."

Tom Green & any animal he abuses in "Freddy Got Fingered."

Keanu Reeves & Charlize Theron in "Sweet November."

Burt Reynolds & Sylvester Stallone in "Driven."

Kurt Russell & either Kevin Costner or Courtney Cox in "3000 Miles to Graceland."

Voters are given a choice of nominating one of only eight movies for worst picture.

In addition to the ubiquitous "Pearl Harbor" there are "Driven," "Glitter," "3000 Miles to Graceland," "Monkeybone," "Planet of the Apes," "Town & Country" and "Freddy Got Fingered."

Penelope Cruz has the misfortune of being a possible nominee for the three worst performances by an actress -- in "Vanilla Sky," "Blow" and "Captain Corelli's Mandolin."

Other front-runners include: Beckinsale ("Pearl Harbor"), Carey ("Glitter"), Angelina Joli ("Laura Croft: Tomb Raider" AND "Original Sin"), Jennifer Lopez ("Angel Eyes" AND "The Wedding Planner"), Diane Keaton ("Town & Country"), Liv Tyler ("One Night at McCool's"), Hillary Swank ("The Affair of the Necklace") and Theron ("Sweet November).

Four actors share the embarrassment of possible nomination for two pictures each: John Travolta ("Domestic Disturbance" AND "Swordfish"), Brendan Fraser ("The Monkeybone" AND "The Mummy Returns"), Keanu Reeves ("Hardball" AND "Sweet November") and Chris Rock ("Down To Earth" AND "Osmosis Jones").

Others in the race are Ben Affleck ("Pearl Harbor"), Nicolas Cage ("Captain Corelli's Mandolin"), Kevin Costner ("3000 Miles To Graceland"), Tom Green ("Freddy Got Fingered"), Warren Beatty ("Town & Country") and Steven Seagal ("Exit Wounds").

Comedian Tom Green had the distinction of qualifying for nomination in two categories -- worst actor and worst director, both for "Freddy Got Fingered."

Another quirky category is worst remake or sequel of the year.

Take your pick: "Crocodile Dundee in L.A.," "Jurassic Park III," "Pearl Harbor," "Planet of the Apes," "Vanilla Sky," "Hannibal," "The Mummy Returns," "13 Ghosts" and "Sweet November."

This year's potential nominees include many major stars or former stars who have stumbled in their performances or who have accepted roles in badly-written or otherwise atrocious movies.

In past Razzie competitions Sylvester Stallone, Bo Derek, Kevin Costner, Madonna and Pia Zadora have been repeatedly drubbed by Razzie voters.

Among this year's worst supporting actors are Ray Liotta, Charlton Heston, Burt Reynolds, Kurt Russell, Bill Murray and Jon Voight.

The possibilities for worst supporting actresses are no less ruthlessly selected, no matter how good or bad they were in past screen appearances. Posted for poor performances are Drew Barrymore, Halle Berry, Courtney Cox, Bridget Fonda, Sally Field, Goldie Hawn and Elizabeth Perkins.

Unlike almost every other Tinseltown award show, the Razzie's are not televised. The reason? No star has every shown up for announcement of the nominees or winners.

The show, such as it is, usually is held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard in a cozy restaurant with very little hoopla and virtually no celebrities to attract a TV audience.

The Razzie trophy, too, falls short of the splendor of the Oscar statuette, the Golden Globe and Emmy. And it costs considerably less. The Golden Raspberry trophy is a gold spray-painted golfball-sized raspberry atop a Super 8 film reel worth about two dollars.