NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

‘Act of Valor’ takes box office

NEW YORK

On Oscar weekend, the real-life action stars of “Act of Valor” bested Hollywood’s pretend heroes.

The Relativity Media action flick, starring real, active-duty U.S. Navy SEALs, topped the weekend box office, earning $24.7 million according to studio estimates Sunday.

Lionsgate’s “Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds,” a more dramatic offering for the consistently popular Perry, opened with a healthy $16 million in second place.

Rounding out the top five were: “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” $13.5 million, third; “Safe House,” $11.4 million, fourth; and “The Vow,” $10 million, fifth.

Sandler sets Razzie record: 11 nominations

SANTA MONICA, Calif.

When Adam Sandler’s bad, he’s really bad, according to voters for the Razzies, an Academy Awards spoof that singles out the worst movies of the year.

Sandler received a record 11 nominations Saturday for the Razzies as star, producer or writer on three 2011 movies — “Jack and Jill,” “Just Go with It” and “Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star.”

That more than doubled the previous record of five Razzie nominations held by Eddie Murphy for 2007’s “Norbit.”

Sandler’s nominations include worst actor for both “Jack and Jill” and “Just Go with It” — and worst actress for “Jack and Jill,” in which he plays a family man and his own twin sister.

Sandler also had two nominations as worst screen couple opposite Jennifer Aniston or Brooklyn Decker in “Just Go with It” and opposite Katie Holmes, Al Pacino or himself in “Jack and Jill.”

As a producer, Sandler was credited with worst-picture and worst prequel, remake, rip-off or sequel nominations for both “Bucky Larson” and “Jack and Jill.” He also shared in worst-screenplay nominations as a writer on both movies, and a worst-ensemble nomination for “Jack and Jill.”

“It’s almost karmic for someone to have made that much razz-able stuff in one year,” said Razzies founder John Wilson. “He’s angered someone really powerful, I would say.”

Along with “Bucky Larson” and “Jack and Jill,” worst-picture contenders are “New Year’s Eve,” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” and “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1.”

“Jack and Jill” led with 12 nominations, with “Transformers” second with nine and “Breaking Dawn” right behind with eight.

Razzie nominations were released on the eve of the Oscars. Winners will be announced on April Fool’s Day.

For worst actor, Sandler is up against “Bucky Larson” star Nick Swardson, along with Russell Brand for “Arthur”; Nicolas Cage for “Drive Angry,” “Season of the Witch” and “Trespass”; and Taylor Lautner for “Abduction” and “Breaking Dawn.”

Swardson also was nominated for worst supporting actor for “Jack and Jill” and “Just Go with It.”

For worst actress, Sandler is joined by another cross-dressing actor, Martin Lawrence in “Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son.” Also nominated were Sarah Palin for her documentary “The Undefeated”; Sarah Jessica Parker for “I Don’t Know How She Does It” and “New Year’s Eve”; and Kristen Stewart for “Breaking Dawn.”

Several Oscar winners made the Razzies list, among them Cage (a best-actor winner for “Leaving Las Vegas”) and Pacino (a best-actor winner for “Scent of a Woman”), who was nominated for worst supporting actor for “Jack and Jill.”

Bill Condon, an Oscar winner for his “Gods and Monsters” screenplay, was among the worst-director nominees at the Razzies for “Breaking Dawn.”

George Strait cuts KC concert short

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Country music star George Strait says he’ll play in Kansas City next week to make up for a weekend concert he cut short because he was too sick to continue.

Strait made it through two songs Saturday night at the Sprint Center before telling the crowd he couldn’t keep going because he was ill. The Kansas City Star reported that the singer’s voice was labored and hoarse.

Many of the 18,000 in attendance stood and gave him a rousing ovation after they got over their initial disappointment.

Martina McBride opened for Strait with a one-hour set, and she said she will be back to open.

All tickets for the first show will be honored at the concert rescheduled for this Saturday.

Associated Press