CALGARY SUN

RAZZIES Shrugged Off by Travolta

by Louis B. Hobson

WILMINGTON -- John Travolta's sci-fi epic swept the 2001 RAZZIE Awards. As well as being named the Worst Picture of the year, BATTLEFIELD EARTH earned Travolta a RAZZIE for Worst Actor.

Travolta was neither amused nor offended.

"I didn't even know there were such awards. I have people around me whose job it is to not tell me about such things. They're obviously doing their job," says Travolta.

"Not every film can be a critical and box-office success. It would have been awful only if Battlefield Earth was neither. That's not the case. It is edging toward the $100-million US mark which means it has found an audiences even if it didn't impress critics.

"I'd rather my films connect with audiences than with critics because it gives you more longevity as a performer."

When he learned that Madonna had been named Worst Actress for THE NEXT BEST THING, Travolta replied: "I liked what she did in that film, so I feel I'm in good company."

Vancouver actor Barry Pepper, who received a Worst Supporting Actor RAZZIE for BATTLEFIELD EARTH, has a different take on the dubious honor. "I wish somebody had invited me to the ceremony. I would have gone and accepted it. That would have been so much fun!"

Last year, Travolta had been promising a sequel to BATTLEFIELD EARTH, but now he is a little more cautious. "There's always a possibility but right now it's not a priority. I have quite a busy slate."