Spears and Madonna flicks, `Star Wars' lead worst-movie list

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Voters for the Razzies, an annual spoof of the Academy Awards, have a message for Britney Spears and Madonna: Don't quit your day jobs as pop divas. <br><br>Spears' teen buddy

Monday, February 10th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Voters for the Razzies, an annual spoof of the Academy Awards, have a message for Britney Spears and Madonna: Don't quit your day jobs as pop divas.

Spears' teen buddy flick ``Crossroads'' had a leading eight Razzie nominations and Madonna's island-romance bomb ``Swept Away'' received seven, including worst picture and worst actress for both movies.

``Star Wars: Episode II _ Attack of the Clones,'' also received seven nominations, among them worst picture and director for George Lucas, creator of the sci-fi saga.

The other worst-picture contenders are Eddie Murphy's sci-fi comedy ``The Adventures of Pluto Nash'' and Roberto Benigni's live-action version of ``Pinocchio.''

Nominees for the 23rd annual Razzies, organized by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, were to be announced Monday, a day before Oscar nominations. Razzie ``winners'' will be announced March 22, the eve of the Oscar ceremony.

Madonna personally had four nominations: Worst actress for ``Swept Away,'' directed by her husband, Guy Ritchie (a nominee for worst director and worst screenplay); worst screen couple, paired with Adriano Giannini in ``Swept Away''; worst supporting actress for the James Bond adventure ``Die Another Day''; and worst song for the ``Die Another Day'' title tune, which she co-wrote.

What was so bad about ``Swept Away,'' a remake of a 1975 Italian film about a rich snob stranded on an island with a handsome sailor?

``What wasn't?'' said Razzies founder John Wilson. ``It's a really awful remake of a highly regarded movie. I think it's the most blatant example of the fact that Madonna simply cannot act. It's as though she decided she's going to be a movie star and will keep inflicting these movies on us till we cry uncle. But this one may finally end her film career.''

Madonna previously received four worst-actress Razzies for such movies as ``Shanghai Surprise'' and ``Who's That Girl?'' The Razzies also named her worst actress of the 20th century.

Spears, whose pop-queen career arc has drawn comparisons to Madonna's, also could continue her predecessor's tradition of bad acting, Wilson said.

``Britney Spears is a Madonna wannabe,'' Wilson said. ``Madonna is on the outs, and Britney could be picking up the torch, or the spear, perhaps.''

Besides Madonna and Spears, worst-actress nominees are Angelina Jolie for ``Life or Something Like It''; Jennifer Lopez for ``Enough'' and ``Maid in Manhattan''; and Winona Ryder for ``Mr. Deeds.''

Benigni was nominated in the actor, director and screenplay categories for ``Pinocchio.'' Other worst-actor contenders are Giannini for ``Swept Away''; Eddie Murphy for ``Pluto Nash,'' ``I Spy'' and ``Showtime''; Steven Seagal for ``Half Past Dead''; and Adam Sandler for ``Adam Sandler's 8 Crazy Nights'' and ``Mr. Deeds.''

The Razzies added a new category, most flatulent teen-targeted movie, meant to ``dishonor the often moronic movies Hollywood is forever aiming at the acne-and-braces set.'' Nominees are ``Adam Sandler's 8 Crazy Nights,'' ``Crossroads,'' ``Jackass: The Movie,'' ``Scooby-Doo'' and ``XXX.''