Best/Worst accent

[ALLWritety]

Which actor(s) does the best/worst accent?? For those that come from these places or speak with these accents please chip in with your thoughts as to if they were good or bad?

Mel Gibson - Scottish?
The main guy from "Snatch" (forgot is his name!!)
- Irish???

Feel free to mention more.

Kevvers

[Serenity]

Worst: Kevin Costner, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. I would like to apologize to everyone in England for that one.

Second runner up for worst: same film, different actor, Christian Slater.

Best: Hugh Laurie in House. If I didn't know how the man normally talked, I probably wouldn't have guessed.

[scarletpeaches]

Anyone who tries to do a 'Scottish' accent. I've yet to hear one that sounds genuine.

Worst offenders: Mike Myers in Shrek and Jessica Lange in Rob Roy.

But I do like Gwyneth Paltrow and Renee Zellweger's English accents.

[totidem_verbis]

Best: Hugh Laurie in House. If I didn't know how the man normally talked, I probably wouldn't have guessed.

I second Hugh Laurie. I was surprised when I saw him in an interview and heard his natural accent.

Natalie Portman's accent in V for Vendetta wasn't that good, IMO.

[triceretops]

Rene Zellwegger's Jersey accent in Cinderella Man was pretty spot on, me thinks. "James J. Braddock, you are the bulldawg of Boygon, and the champion of my hawt!"

Tri

[nevada]

much as it pains me to say, Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker's Dracula. Accent, what accent? I always thought Spike did a wicked accent on Angel.

Brad Pitt in Snatch couldn't do the accent at all which is why Guy Richie made the decision he did with regard to Pitt's character. I havent seen the movie, but I hear it's awesome.

[ChaosTitan]

Worst -- The entire cast of "Storm of the Century." Not one of them pulled off a convincing accent. Runner-up, Halle Berry in "X-Men." Ugh. They were smart to have her drop the accent in the sequels.

Best -- Jamie Bamber on "Battlestar Galactica." Agree with Hugh Laurie. Also Nicole Kidman does American accents very well.

Best and Worst -- The cast of "The Departed." Worst because the accents are so distracting at the start of the film. Best because by the end of the film, I no longer hear the accents. Just the characters.

[meldy]

Best by far Hugh Laurie.
I have heard that Brad Pitt was spot on in Snatch but I have never heard a real "Piker" so cant say for sure.

Worst accent?
Kevin Costner in POT(did he even try?)
Mel Gibson in Braveheart


I'd like to know as well (and I am probably going to get flamed all to hell for this) why Frodo and Sam have half assed accents and Merry and Pip have great accents.(yes, I know 2 were American 2 are English actors but it sounds off considering they are all the same nationionality)
Denthor doesnt have an accent but both his sons do?

[scarletpeaches]

I'd like to know as well (and I am probably going to get flamed all to hell for this) why Frodo and Sam have half assed accents and Merry and Pip have great accents.(yes, I know 2 were American 2 are English actors but it sounds off considering they are all the same nationionality)
Denthor doesnt have an accent but both his sons do?

I beg your pardon???

[CaroGirl]

Worst accent: Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. I've never made it through that movie because of DVD. Ugh!!

Best accent: I always thought Peter Sellers did a pretty passable American accent, esp. as the president in Dr. Strangelove. And I second Rene Zellweger in B.J.'s Diary. That was pretty good.

[ChaosTitan]

I'd like to know as well (and I am probably going to get flamed all to hell for this) why Frodo and Sam have half assed accents and Merry and Pip have great accents.(yes, I know 2 were American 2 are English actors but it sounds off considering they are all the same nationionality)
Denthor doesnt have an accent but both his sons do?

Erm, if by English actors of the same nationality you mean that they speak English and are Caucasian, then you're correct.

'Cuz otherwise, Billy Boyd is Scottish. And Dom was born in Germany.

[scarletpeaches]

Yeah. What ChaosTitan said.

*sigh*

Scotland is not merely part of England. It's a separate country.

[rosebud1981]

Brad Pitt's in Snatch was very good. Although it might be a bit easier than most to do since he could effectively slur all the words together without opening his mouth properly.
Alan Rickman's German accent in Die Hard was also excellent.

Worst I can think of was Tom Cruise's horrible attempt at an Irish accent in Far and Away

[Bad Penny]

Robin Wright, Chris Sarandon and Christopher Guest did excellent English accents in the Princess Bride.

Worst ever was Costner in Robin Hood. He did try half the time and it's a train wreck.

Brad Pitt in The Devil's Own was pretty bad too. Mickey Rourke does a far better Northern Irish accent

[maestrowork]

All the British/Australian actors who do American accent well (Nicole Kidman, Rachael Griffith, Kate Winslet, Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Kate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman, etc.) get my vote -- I've been trying for years to speak in an American accent!

Renee Z. did a marvelous British accent in Bridget Jones.

Costner didn't even try in Robin Hood.

Funniest: Sandra Oh trying to do a "Chinese accent" in Double Happiness. Hilarious.

[kristie911]

Okay, I don't know his name but the bad guy in Gone In Sixty Seconds (the Nick Cage version). I don't know what the accent was or if it was really his but it was hideous. I gotta think he spit buckets whenever he said anything!

[My-Immortal]

Best -- Also Nicole Kidman does American accents very well.

Well...she is technically American. Born in Hawaii and didn't move to Australia until she was three or so...

[My-Immortal]

Hilary Clinton does pretty well altering her accent depending on where she is campaigning...

Hugh Laurie is good. The male lead actor in the sitcom Still Standing did a pretty good American midwest accent...I can't think of his name offhand...(Edit: Mark Addy - lives in York, England)

Christian Bale was good in Batman Begins.

I don't know if the accent was 'right' - but I've heard that Leonardo's accent in Blood Diamonds was supposed to have been good.

[TrainofThought]

Best: Hugh Laurie in House. If I didn't know how the man normally talked, I probably wouldn't have guessed.I third, fourth and fifth this selection. :D

Renee Z. did a marvelous British accent in Bridget Jones.I second this one.

Worst in pretend lives: Madonna's British accent.

[scarletpeaches]

See, to me, Hugh Laurie speaking with an American accent is just weird. I know him as a comedian and a comedy actor, not 'serious' at all.

[Shadow_Ferret]

Actually, Americans don't have accents. The rest of the world does. :tongue

[meldy]

Erm, if by English actors of the same nationality you mean that they speak English and are Caucasian, then you're correct.

'Cuz otherwise, Billy Boyd is Scottish. And Dom was born in Germany.

And in normal life both of them speak with accents....Dom may have been born in Germany but he grew up in England and has an English accent. Billy has a Scottish one.

I am not an expert so really cant tell the difference between the different U.K Dialects. I dont see how that is relevent anyway.

My point was if both of those Hobbits have accents why didnt Sam and Frodo?
Every once in a while they broke out in one...but not consistently.


For the record Scotland is not a different country anymore..it is part of the U.K as is England/Britain, Wales and North Ireland.

[kristie911]

Actually, Americans don't have accents. The rest of the world does. :tongue

My thoughts exactly! :)

[maestrowork]

Well...she is technically American. Born in Hawaii and didn't move to Australia until she was three or so...

That may be true, but did you see her talk in real life? She has a strong Australian accent -- so I still think it's remarkable how she sounds completely American on screen.

Mel Gibson, on the other hand, was born and raised American...

[kristie911]

I'm always surprised when I watch a movie and the lead doesn't have any sort of accent...then you see them on an interview or in a DVD extra and they have an accent. I don't know how they learn to do that! I'm amazed.

Colin Farrell comes to mind. But then he's in my mind a lot. :D

[My-Immortal]

That may be true, but did you see her talk in real life? She has a strong Australian accent -- so I still think it's remarkable how she sounds completely American on screen.

I wonder if she does the stronger accent because it's....sexier?

I've known quite a few people - women mostly - that have strengthened their accents because they felt it was sexier than the more traditional (boring) 'American' accents.

But yes, she does seem to have a strong accent and she does pull off an American-sounding one well too.

[kristie911]

I've known quite a few people - women mostly - that have strengthened their accents <snipped>.

I always try to strengthen my accent...because if my flat Midwesterner accent isn't sexy, then I don't know what the hell is. :D

Oh, yeah...I'm still single. Ignore me...I obviously have no idea what's sexy anymore. <sigh>

[ChaosTitan]

And in normal life both of them speak with accents....Dom may have been born in Germany but he grew up in England and has an English accent. Billy has a Scottish one.

Yes, and in the movies, they also spoke with their native accents. But my post was in response to you referring to Billy and Dom as "English actors," when one of them isn't English at all.

I am not an expert so really cant tell the difference between the different U.K Dialects. I dont see how that is relevent anyway.

That's like saying "oh, Paulo is from South America, you can tell by his accent, but it's irrelevant if he's Brazilian, El Salvadorian, or Colombian."

It's relevant, because being Scottish, Irish, English or Welsh isn't just about a "dialect" or an accent. It's a culture and a heritage. And they are four very distinctive accents, cultures, and heritages.

My point was if both of those Hobbits have accents why didnt Sam and Frodo?
Every once in a while they broke out in one...but not consistently.

I thought they did. Sam, especially, had a very consistent accent. If I recall correctly, everyone in that film had some variation of a UK or Australian accent.

[Tiger]

Anyone who tries to do a 'Scottish' accent. I've yet to hear one that sounds genuine.

James Doohan, Cap'n!

[Jo]

Gack. Regardless of where they were born, both Nicole Kidman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000173/bio) and Mel Gibson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000154/bio) were raised in Australia. Nicole's parents are Australian. Mel Gibson's mum was an Aussie. I think they both put on pretty good American accents. You should hear their earlier work, like Nicole's BMX Bandits (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085204/), Bush Christmas (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085282/), and Dead Calm (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097162/), and Mel's Mad Max (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079501/), Tim (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080024/), and Gallipoli (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082432/). ;) (In Mad Max, Mel's voice was dubbed for the US.)

[Joe270]

For the record Scotland is not a different country anymore..it is part of the U.K as is England/Britain, Wales and North Ireland.

Head for the hills, Meldy, them's fightin' words for Scarlet.

The worst accent ever, hands down, was John Wayne as a Swedish sailor in "The Long Voyage Home". Just absolutely horrid.

[meldy]

*running for hills*

Thats just what I was told by newly immigrated English people!!

[maxmordon]

Remake of All The King's Men: 3 Brits trying to do Southern accent. Enough said

[mkcbunny]

Diane Lane in The Perfect Storm. Worst New England accent evah, and I like her.

I have to disagree with the earlier comment about the accents in The Departed being worst, Jack didn't convince me, but Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg just slipped back into the townie chatter. It sounds unbelievable if you aren't from Boston, but really, it's totally right. You can take the boy out of Boston, but you can't take Boston outta the boy. Leo's accent kept shifting, but as that was part of his character, it worked for me.

The worst was Martin Sheen. He should have given up and pretended to be from NY or something.

[ILove2Write]

Gary Oldman does fantastic accents.

[scarletpeaches]

And in normal life both of them speak with accents....Dom may have been born in Germany but he grew up in England and has an English accent. Billy has a Scottish one.

I am not an expert so really cant tell the difference between the different U.K Dialects. I dont see how that is relevent anyway.

Yes, and your original post said that two of the Hobbit actors were English. They're not. One is technically German and one is Scottish.

It's relevant because Scottish people get this all the time and it's become more than tiresome to have one's culture labelled a UK dialect as if Scottish/English/British/UK are interchangeable words or nationalities.

For the record Scotland is not a different country anymore..it is part of the U.K as is England/Britain, Wales and North Ireland.

For the record Scotland is and always has been a different country. See that line that separates it from England? Border. Means it's separate. Different legal system, edication system, history, language, culture.

The United Kingdom is a name for the...guess what? United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Commonwealth.

Bolding mine: And also for the record, England is not interchangeable with the word 'Britain'. Listen very carefully, because I'm getting sick of saying this:

Britain: collective name for Scotland, Wales and England.
United Kingdom: collective name for Scotland, Wales, England, Northern Ireland and the Commonwealth.

Got that? Good. All member countries of Britain and all member states of the United Kingdom are separate countries.

I mean, India is part of the UK. But hey, it's all England, isn't it?

Fancy me telling our Canadian members that as members of the Commonwealth, technically they're English?

Nah. Doubt it.

[Shadow_Ferret]

See, to me, Hugh Laurie speaking with an American accent is just weird. I know him as a comedian and a comedy actor, not 'serious' at all.
I never heard of him before House and only just realized he was in Stewart Little, too. But whenever I hear him speak his native tongue I have to change the channel. It just sounds so weird, like he's talking that way to be goofy or something.



For the record Scotland is and always has been a different country. See that line that separates it from England? Border. Means it's separate. Different legal system, edication system, history, language, culture.


Really? Borders mean another country? Wow. Scotland isn't England? Hmm. Next thing you're going to tell me Canada and Mexico aren't part of the United States.

[scarletpeaches]

I've been a fan of his since Blackadder and A Bit of Fry and Laurie.

Course, the one I really, really heart is Stephen Fry. :LilLove:

[Shadow_Ferret]

Don't recall him on Blackadder, but I didn't watch it faithfully and that was many many years ago.

[scarletpeaches]

The best line was when he was in Blackadder the Third as the Prince Regent. Blackadder walked into his bedroom to wake him up and he sat bolt upright, asking, "What's the time, what's the time?"

"It's three o'clock in the afternoon, Your Highness."

"Oh thank goodness for that - I thought I'd overslept!"

[seun]

For the record Scotland is and always has been a different country. See that line that separates it from England? Border. Means it's separate. Different legal system, edication system, history, language, culture.


Yeah, but we all know you want to be English.

[Priene]

I thought they did. Sam, especially, had a very consistent accent.

Consistently irritating, that's for sure. He had what's known in my parts as a Mummerset (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummerset) accent. Which is, roughly speaking, what a RP-speaking buffoon think rural people sound like.

Memo to actors thinking of doing a Norfolk accent: we're non-rhotic. If you don't know what that means, you shouldn't be attempting to sound like us.

[PattiTheWicked]

Best accents:

Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in 310 To Yuma -- how the heck do you have a Brit and an Aussie do such convincing 1860's Western US accents? It was a great movie all round, but partly because they were so believable.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Emma or Shakespeare in Love -- she sounds so veddy upper class English.

Daniel Day Lewis in Gangs of New York -- Bill the Butcher is the scariest character on screen, and part of it is his malevolent New Yawk Angry tone.

Worst: I'll second the idea of Tom Cruise in Far and Away. He sounds about as Irish as I do.

Re Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamond -- I thought his accent was a bit jarring at first, because it was hard to wrap my brain around as one I'd never heard before. Then a friend of mine who was raised in Africa said DiCaprio's accent was pretty spot-on, so it was easier to listen to the second time I watched the movie.

Also, with The Departed I didn't even really think of those as accents, because most of those guys are from Boston anyway, and they sounded like their voices normally should sound to me -- if you watch stuff from earlier in the careers of Damon and Wahlberg, they do sound sort of Bostony onscreen.

[Bmwhtly]

I second Hugh Laurie. I was surprised when I saw him in an interview and heard his natural accent.Whereas we have it the other way round.
After years of him speaking normally on Television, suddenly he's on TV with an American accent.
I, for one, can't quite get used to it.

Natalie Portman's accent in V for Vendetta wasn't that good, IMO.A lot of people say that, but in my opinion, it's not so bad that it jumps up and waves.

Brad Pitt in The Devil's Own was pretty bad too.Yes, I'd forgotten about that.
*shudder*

Okay, I don't know his name but the bad guy in Gone In Sixty Seconds (the Nick Cage version). I don't know what the accent was or if it was really his but it was hideous. I gotta think he spit buckets whenever he said anything!That would be Christopher Eccleston.
And yes, that's his accent (Although it's been a good while since I saw him in that.)
He's from the North (lot's of planets have a north).

The upper-class accent he puts on for 28 Days Later is pretty convincing though.

I know him as a comedian and a comedy actor, not 'serious' at all.He played a serious role in Spooks on a couple of occasions. But the comedian in him peeked out just enough to make the character a charismatic gem.

Yeah, but we all know you want to be English.Seun, comments like that are likely to restart hostilities between Scotland and England.
And if they do, and I get deported, I'm gonna hunt you down!


Clive Owen's American accent never sits quite right either. Particularly in Inside Man.

[maestrowork]

I always try to strengthen my accent...because if my flat Midwesterner accent isn't sexy, then I don't know what the hell is. :D

Oh, yeah...I'm still single. Ignore me...I obviously have no idea what's sexy anymore. <sigh>

I never find my accent sexy... I am trying very hard to lose the accent and wish to speak in that "flat" Garriosn Keillor accent. Maybe in another 40 years I'll succeed...


Did anyone mention Merryl Streep yet? That woman is amazing when it comes to accents...

Yes, Gwyneth Paltrow. She does excellent British accent.

[maestrowork]

Remake of All The King's Men: 3 Brits trying to do Southern accent. Enough said

LOL. I found the casting really odd. On the other hand, I think Jude Law and Kate Winslet did a fine job -- maybe I just don't know what exactly a southern accent should sound like. :) But Jude Law did southern accent before (in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil).

[Bmwhtly]

That's like saying "oh, Paulo is from South America, you can tell by his accent, but it's irrelevant if he's Brazilian, El Salvadorian, or Colombian." Or it's like hearing an American and saying "Ah, you're from Texas"
"no, I'm from New York"
"Well, it's all the same"

Except it's worse, because rather than lumping states together, you're implying there is no difference between two different COUNTRIES.

And they are four very distinctive accents, cultures, and heritages.And countries, governments, international sports teams, laws and so on and so on.

[robeiae]

Worst: Kevin Costner, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. I would like to apologize to everyone in England for that one.
BAM! We have a winner!

[robeiae]

Btw, I don't really give a rat's @ss about accents, personally. I mean, who cares if someone playing Genghis Kahn is speaking with a Mongolian accent if he's speaking in English!

[maestrowork]

Btw, I don't really give a rat's @ss about accents, personally. I mean, who cares if someone playing Genghis Kahn is speaking with a Mongolian accent if he's speaking in English!

I agree, especially in foreign language scene where all the actors are speaking English (ahem, Memoirs of a Geisha). I find it just silly and odd, especially when an Asian actor deliberately "fake" an Asian accent.

When I audition, a lot of times people will ask me to do an Asian accent. Sometimes I ask, "Why? From the script the guy grew up in Los Angeles. So why should he have an Asian accent?" It's just silly. I have an accent, but not a typical "Asian" accent, but the point is -- why MUST an Asian character have an Asian accent, if the story doesn't require that? When you think about it, it's kind of racist.

[KTC]

yes...if we want authenticity, we should learn the authentic language that the movie must be filmed in before going to the theatre.

[Bmwhtly]

Btw, I don't really give a rat's @ss about accents, personally. I mean, who cares if someone playing Genghis Kahn is speaking with a Mongolian accent if he's speaking in English!
In foreign-set films, I'd agree.

But when, say, a Brit is playing an American; if the Brit's accent isn't up to snuff, the audience dissassociates from the film.

In my opinion.

[CaroGirl]

Be like Sean Connery. He never affected an accent, other than his own, in his entire career. Didn't hurt him any.

[robeiae]

yes...if we want authenticity, we should learn the authentic language that the movie must be filmed in before going to the theatre.
I don't want authenticity; I want entertainment! And popcorn!
...
...
...
...
Dammit!

[maestrowork]

Sure, like anyone knows how Mongolians spoke in 1300 A.D.

[KTC]

I don't want authenticity; I want entertainment! And popcorn!
...
...
...
...
Dammit!

well...christ. that's a first. I was agreeing with you...and then you disagree. You're an enema wrapped within a riddle. So what do you want...Kahn to be filmed as a silent?

[robeiae]

well...christ. that's a first. I was agreeing with you...and then you disagree. You're an enema wrapped within a riddle. So what do you want...Kahn to be filmed as a silent?No. John Wayne did just fine.

I just want actors to act--not flex. Accent, no accent, I don't care, any more than I care what color their hair, eyes, or skin are. From my point of view, there's absolutely no reason why Ray shouldn't get cast for the role of the Marquis De Sade, if his acting skills were the most impressive.

[maestrowork]

But doing an accent is part of acting, Rob. And like it or not, how I look affects everything I do as an actor (at least for film -- on stage, it's a bit more flexible. Have you seen the all-black cast of Carousel?)

there's absolutely no reason why Ray shouldn't get cast for the role of the Marquis De Sade, if his acting skills were the most impressive.

You mean you would believe an Asian-looking Marquis De Sade?



But I agree to some point it doesn't have to be, at least for contemporary parts. I always asked my agent why can't I audition for parts that are not specifically "Asian"? His answer was that I need a niche, and there are too many actors of all nationalities vying for those race non-specific roles to begin with. But still, I should be able to at least audition.

[robeiae]

Well, I can see that how you look might be significant if there was a plot element based on such--like the movie Glory. It would be silly for Broderick to play Denzel's role and visa-versa. Beyond that, a general attractiveness and camera-freiendly appearance is certainly fair, as well. But as to other superficialities, I just don't care. One of the silliest things I've ever seen was in Hoffa, where they tried to use make-up to make Jack look like Hoffa. Just stupid. Of course, the movie sucked, anyway.

[MidnightMuse]

I think part of it is Hollowood thinking "If the actor puts on some sort of accent, Americans will fall for it." like we're too stupid to know the difference between Scottish and Russian (Sean Connery: Hunt For Red October)

Though I found it interesting to hear a Russian folk song with a Scottish accent.

[Toothpaste]

I think it is a lot easier to be "colour blind" on stage in theatre since there is a lot of suspension of disbelief going on. And Shakespeare. For some reason it seemed perfectly fine for me to watch Denzel and Keanu as brothers in Much Ado.

I am from the camp of Natalie Portman's accent in V for Vendetta was terrible. And for me it really affected the quality of that film. I think it might have been compounded by the fact that I have always really respected her as an actress. To see her fail at something like that was odd. And made me realise that while she is a good actress, and very pretty, she isn't actually as fabulous as I had been made to believe (I watched several films post V for Vendetta, and I realised, eh, she's fine - but not as fabulous as she was when she was a child actress. I think because she is Audrey Hepburn beautiful, kind and quite smart, I was fooled into thinking her acting was just as brilliant as she was as a person. Sad realisation.)

[robeiae]

I think it is a lot easier to be "colour blind" on stage in theatre since there is a lot of suspension of disbelief going on. And Shakespeare. For some reason it seemed perfectly fine for me to watch Denzel and Keanu as brothers in Much Ado.
Yes, exactly. It should be perfectly fine. Why not?

[maestrowork]

For some reason, film is really different from stage. That's why Mary Martin, for example, never got to star in the film versions of her stage shows -- she was deemed "too old" for the screen.

In film, I guess, people look for better "realism." Film is visual; stage is more intellectual. On stage we could believe that Denzel and Keanu are genetically related brothers, but somehow people simply won't buy it on film. And that -- and I know as an actor -- is a big hurdle for film actors. Your looks often precedes your acting ability in determining whether you get a part or not.

[Toothpaste]

Yes film is more "real" somehow. And I do think it can be an example of being slightly too PC in some colour blind casting. It still isn't fair though. There are simply more roles out there for white men because they run the industry (produce, direct, write). As a woman, I feel I have a lot in common with actors of a visible minority. Le sigh.

Though Mary Martin actually did get to star as Peter Pan in that filmed version of the musical.

[nevada]

What I would like to know is why in movies, russians for example have russian accents when they are speaking to each other in russian. You know how it works. first couple of lines is in Russian, so we know they are speaking in their native language, then it switches to english so we dont have to read subtitles. (remember in the mel brooks movie, and the voice over comes on to tell us that the rest of the movie will be in english for the sake of the audience?) But when it switches to english, they still have russian accents. Do they think we are too stupid to figure out that they are russians?

There is a movie, I don't remember the title, it's a war movie between americans and russians, and what the director did is that when the russians are speaking english they have accents and when they are speaking to each other there is no russian accent. I didnt mind it. Didnt see the whole movie, just bits of it.

And Canada is english cause we're part of the commonwealth? OMG good thing i like scones. Not so much with the kippers.

[maestrowork]

Actually I forgot which movie it was... U-571, I think, I'll have to check... when they transitioned the Germans from speaking German to English, they didn't speak with a "German accent" anymore.

[ChunkyC]

And Canada is english cause we're part of the commonwealth? OMG good thing i like scones. Not so much with the kippers.
Not quite right there. We might technically be part of the United Kingdom because we're part of the Commonwealth, though in general practice Canada is not referred to as part of the UK. There will always be a link until we do away with having the Queen at the top of our governmental pyramid. Many Canadians don't realize the English monarch still must sign off on all our laws before they actually become law.

As for accents: I too cast my vote for Costner's Robin Hood being the worst. I'm also in agreement about Hugh Laurie's skills. The man is amazing. I've been a fan of his since Blackadder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4TKTRV4HM0), and hearing his accent on House blew me away.

[robeiae]

On stage we could believe that Denzel and Keanu are genetically related brothers, but somehow people simply won't buy it on film.I bought it. I thought it was a wonderful film. Guess I'm just better than everyone else... ;)

[MidnightMuse]

I don't watch House, but I have to agree insofaras when I first heard Hugh Laurie speak, I had no idea he wasn't American.

Same with Paul Blackthorne (saw him in Dresden Files on sci-fi channel) didn't realize he wasn't American.

But I caught a few minutes of Torchwood this weekend (didn't care for it) and it kinda flipped me that the guy didn't have an accent. Of. Any. Kind.

Aint' he a Brit?

[scarletpeaches]

Which guy? Harkness? You think he doesn't have an accent?

[KTC]

I want to see Breakfast Club in Lithuanian.

[Joe270]

Actually I forgot which movie it was... U-571, I think, I'll have to check... when they transitioned the Germans from speaking German to English, they didn't speak with a "German accent" anymore.

The original German actors who did the film in German originally dubbed the film into English themselves. As I understand it, they had to dub the film in German, too, because the background noise from the sub was too loud.

[scarletpeaches]

Oh yes, I love that film...the Americans won the war apparently and did all the daring Enigma codebreaking stuff for us.

[scarletpeaches]

And Canada is english cause we're part of the commonwealth? OMG good thing i like scones. Not so much with the kippers.

Nah, that was me being sarcastic to show how much it ticks off Scots when people say we're part of the same country as England, 'cause Scotland, England and Britain are all the same thing. ;)

[MidnightMuse]

Which guy? Harkness? You think he doesn't have an accent?

I dunno - saw the scene where a guy w/dark hair is explaining "everything" to a female cop in a bar, but he'd slipped her an amnesia drug so she'd forget it all by morning.

Dude had no accent. They were in Cardiff (sp) and I thought he was English - I heard no accent at all. Kinda weirded me out.

Also he wasn't as cute as I thought he'd be.

[scarletpeaches]

He sounds American/Canadian to me. Yes, they were in Cardiff but why would that make him English? Cardiff is in Wales.

As far as I'm aware they let Americans and Canadians into Wales. And aliens too. God knows where Harkness is from. Maybe aliens don't have accents (though he definitely has one to my ears).

[jst5150]

worst (and oddly best at the same time): christopher lloyd doing the Klingon in Star Trek IV

[MidnightMuse]

He sounds American/Canadian to me. Yes, they were in Cardiff but why would that make him English? Cardiff is in Wales.

As far as I'm aware they let Americans and Canadians into Wales. And aliens too. God knows where Harkness is from. Maybe aliens don't have accents (though he definitely has one to my ears).

Yes yes, Cardiff is in Wales (best accents on the planet) But I was under the impression that actor was English and therefore expected an English accent -when I didn't hear one, I was surprised.

sheesh!
:D

[scarletpeaches]

I thought he was Canadian? Wasn't he brought up there? I think he was actually born in Scotland. I'm not sure. He's a bit of a mongrel, but I still definitely would.

Well, if he didn't bat for the other team, of course.

Sheesh. The lookers always do.

Ooh, BBC3 at 7pm tonight. Three episizzles of Doctor Who, if the text message I just received from Pa Peaches is to be believed.

[MidnightMuse]

I thought he played for both teams?

[scarletpeaches]

Well, he married his boyfriend recently. :(

Still, if I had the chance to work the Peaches magic on him...:e2brows:

[maxmordon]

Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell

The characters forget they have a "British" accent about ten minutes of the film

[CaroGirl]

He sounds American/Canadian to me. Yes, they were in Cardiff but why would that make him English? Cardiff is in Wales.

As far as I'm aware they let Americans and Canadians into Wales. And aliens too. God knows where Harkness is from. Maybe aliens don't have accents (though he definitely has one to my ears).
You two talking about this guy?: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barrowman

Nothing Canadian about him. He was born in Scotland and raised in America. And he's definitely gay. He was supposed to play Will in Will & Grace but the producers thought he was "too straight" so they gave the part to straight actor instead. Things that make ya go huh?

[Toothpaste]

The main actor in Torchwood is an american who has been living in the UK for a while now (he was on the UK version of Dancing With the Stars - he was also the guy who plays the lead Nazi singing "Springtime for Hitler" in the new film of The Producers [not much point with that, I just think it's cool, he looked SO aryan]. He's a real musical theatre actor, stunning voice . . . but I digress).

[ChaosTitan]

I think part of it is Hollowood thinking "If the actor puts on some sort of accent, Americans will fall for it." like we're too stupid to know the difference between Scottish and Russian (Sean Connery: Hunt For Red October)


Oh, this makes me think of Enemy at the Gates. WTF was up with the casting? Five Russians played by four Brits and an American, and the German villain played by an American. All of them using their own accents.

I don't know if I want the pain of imaging Rachel Weisz with a Russian accent, but still!

[jst5150]

Oh, this makes me think of Enemy at the Gates. WTF was up with the casting? Five Russians played by four Brits and an American, and the German villain played by an American. All of them using their own accents.
almost the entire cast of blackhawk down were from the uk or australia. even a norweigen. josh harnett, i think, was the only american. they cast ioangruffereddeffferrrddd as a young lieutenant. and he did a damn good job at acting like a young lieutenant. kate thornton would agree. :-)

[nevada]

Not quite right there. We might technically be part of the United Kingdom because we're part of the Commonwealth, though in general practice Canada is not referred to as part of the UK. There will always be a link until we do away with having the Queen at the top of our governmental pyramid. Many Canadians don't realize the English monarch still must sign off on all our laws before they actually become law.

Ummm yeah, that was me being sarcastic in response to Scarlett's sarcastic retort about being english. I do know how our government works. But hey, im sure the americans enjoy the many ways the canadian goverment works. Just had a long discussion about that on a different board.

[nevada]

Nah, that was me being sarcastic to show how much it ticks off Scots when people say we're part of the same country as England, 'cause Scotland, England and Britain are all the same thing. ;)

Yeah that was me being sarcastic too. The kippers didnt tip anyone off? I've got to work on my written sarcasm apparently.

[ChaosTitan]

almost the entire cast of blackhawk down were from the uk or australia. even a norweigen. josh harnett, i think, was the only american.

Eric Bana....yummy. :LilLove:

The actors did a terrific job in Black Hawk Down. Most of them pulled off very convincing American accents.

My big quibble with Enemy at the Gates is that no one even attempted a Russian or German accent. They just went with what they had. It was distracting. :tongue

[MidnightMuse]

I go nuts when a movie has a group of - let's just say Russians for effect - in a room together sharing dialog, and speaking English. Come on, like we can't read a few subtitles for a scene or two?

Stark Trek syndrome - or Stargate syndrome for that matter - Everyone everywhere speaks English, even in galaxies far, far, far to the left.

[maestrowork]

But I caught a few minutes of Torchwood this weekend (didn't care for it) and it kinda flipped me that the guy didn't have an accent. Of. Any. Kind.


Capt. John Hartness is an American.

[Tiger]

Have any Japanese speakers heard Vivian Wu or Joan Chen in Japanese roles? Pretty funny. They should have stuck with Mandarin--it's a prettier language anyway.

[Tifferbugz]

I second Hugh Laurie. I was surprised when I saw him in an interview and heard his natural accent.

Natalie Portman's accent in V for Vendetta wasn't that good, IMO.

I had no clue until I read this thread that Hugh Laurie wasn't American...he does an amazing accent is all I can say. :)

Actually, Americans don't have accents. The rest of the world does. :tongue

Well duh! ;)

I never find my accent sexy... I am trying very hard to lose the accent and wish to speak in that "flat" Garriosn Keillor accent. Maybe in another 40 years I'll succeed...


Did anyone mention Merryl Streep yet? That woman is amazing when it comes to accents...

Yes, Gwyneth Paltrow. She does excellent British accent.

Don't lose the accent! Accents are sexy!

What can I say, most of us mid/south-westerners love an accent... :Shrug:

[Tiger]

I agree, especially in foreign language scene where all the actors are speaking English (ahem, Memoirs of a Geisha). I find it just silly and odd, especially when an Asian actor deliberately "fake" an Asian accent.

When I audition, a lot of times people will ask me to do an Asian accent. Sometimes I ask, "Why? From the script the guy grew up in Los Angeles. So why should he have an Asian accent?" It's just silly. I have an accent, but not a typical "Asian" accent, but the point is -- why MUST an Asian character have an Asian accent, if the story doesn't require that? When you think about it, it's kind of racist.

Let's not forget the fact that Asia is a big place; full of languages, ergo, full of accents.

[blacbird]

I second Hugh Laurie. I was surprised when I saw him in an interview and heard his natural accent.

For Yanks unaware of Laurie's background, he's been a terrific, very funny comedian and comic actor in England for years. I lived in the U.K. 1988-1990, and saw a lot of him, frequently teamed with the equally excellent Stephen Fry (the Jeeves series, in particular). Whoever cast him in House was a genius, too.

As for atrocious accents, it goes back a ways, but Dick Van Dyke's Cockney in Mary Poppins makes me grind my teeth every time I hear it.

Good? I'd nominate Leonardo di Caprio's work as a South African mercenary in Blood Diamonds, and Don Cheadle's portrayal of the Rwandan hotel-owner in, uh, Hotel Rwanda.

caw

[jst5150]

Don Cheadle's portrayal of the Rwandan hotel-owner in, uh, Hotel Rwanda.
I hear Don Cheadle's cockney in Ocean's Eleven makes people cringe as much as the Dick van Dyke Mary Poppins accent.

[ChunkyC]

Good? I'd nominate Leonardo di Caprio's work as a South African mercenary in Blood Diamonds, *snip*
Paraphrased conversation I had shortly after I reviewed Blood Diamond:

Person: Loved your column this week!

Me: Why thank you! You are remarkably intelligent, by the way. :D

Person: The only thing that bugged me was DiCaprio's dorky accent. How phony was that?! (laughs)

Me: So, how should a white man born in South Africa and raised in Rhodesia speak English?

Person: I dunno.

:rolleyes:

[blacbird]

I never find my accent sexy... I am trying very hard to lose the accent and wish to speak in that "flat" Garriosn Keillor accent. Maybe in another 40 years I'll succeed...

Nah. All you need to do, ya know, is go up ta live around my Uncle Leo's old place dere at Alexandria, Minnesota, up nexta da lake, ya know, where we useta go catch dem bluegills every summer. Good eatin', dem bluegills, once ya get useta da bones, ya know. Stay up dere a few weeks with da locals, hang out down ta da Blue Room Tavern, shoot some pool, drink a few dozen Grain Belts of an evening, you'll be talkin' just like da rest of us, you betcha.

caw

[maestrowork]

Don't write your dialogue phonetically. Didn't your mother tell ya?

[Bmwhtly]

I think part of it is Hollowood thinking "If the actor puts on some sort of accent, Americans will fall for it." like we're too stupid to know the difference between Scottish and Russian (Sean Connery: Hunt For Red October)

Though I found it interesting to hear a Russian folk song with a Scottish accent.I rather like the way Hunt for Red October did it actually.
The Russians start off speaking Russian (with subtitles). Then, as Peter Firth is speaking, it transitions into English (without Russian Accents).
By doing it like that, it's clear that the characters are not speaking English; it's just translated for our benefit.
And by not having the officers put on an accent, it may sort of help the audience identify with them.
In My Opinion.

I think it is a lot easier to be "colour blind" on stage in theatre since there is a lot of suspension of disbelief going on. And Shakespeare. For some reason it seemed perfectly fine for me to watch Denzel and Keanu as brothers in Much Ado.But it's not done that often. And when it is, that becomes the focal point.
When David (I can't spell his surname, so I won't try), the Black gent from Spooks, played Henry V on stage in London all the press focused on a Black man playing Henry V.
Rather than how good his performance was.

The actors did a terrific job in Black Hawk Down. Most of them pulled off very convincing American accents. Except Ewan McGregor.
Or is that only because I'm used to hearing him with his actual accent?
I hear Don Cheadle's cockney in Ocean's Eleven makes people cringe as much as the Dick van Dyke Mary Poppins accent.That is the worst thing of that film.
Particularly irritating since it doesn't actually add anything to the ensemble.

If they insisted on having a cockney, I'd have dropped Don Cheadle and *gasp* hired a cockney! (Like one of the pawnbrokers from Snatch).



As to good accents, has anyone mentioned David Tennant's Doctor Who?
Like Hugh Laurie, if you didn't know that wasn't his ordinary accent, you'd never know.

Also Jane Leeves did a fair job in Frasier.

[mkcbunny]

On the Boston/New England thing, I completely forgot about Kevin Costner in Thirteen Days. Horrible.

[Vandal]

Best: Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest in Spinal Tap. I was convinced they were real. Worst: Harvey Keitel in The Last Temptation of Christ. Judas was from Brooklyn. Who knew? Most Annoying: Every actor in Fargo. William Macy saying "Yah, Marge" drove me nuts.

[meldy]

Yes, and your original post said that two of the Hobbit actors were English. They're not. One is technically German and one is Scottish.

It's relevant because Scottish people get this all the time and it's become more than tiresome to have one's culture labelled a UK dialect as if Scottish/English/British/UK are interchangeable words or nationalities.



For the record Scotland is and always has been a different country. See that line that separates it from England? Border. Means it's separate. Different legal system, edication system, history, language, culture.

The United Kingdom is a name for the...guess what? United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Commonwealth.

Bolding mine: And also for the record, England is not interchangeable with the word 'Britain'. Listen very carefully, because I'm getting sick of saying this:

Britain: collective name for Scotland, Wales and England.
United Kingdom: collective name for Scotland, Wales, England, Northern Ireland and the Commonwealth.

Got that? Good. All member countries of Britain and all member states of the United Kingdom are separate countries.

I mean, India is part of the UK. But hey, it's all England, isn't it?

Fancy me telling our Canadian members that as members of the Commonwealth, technically they're English?

Nah. Doubt it.


Okay..I am about to dispute this information.

I was a bit confused since NOTHING I could find on the net supported the idea that the U.K. referred to the Commonwealth.
It's called the British Commonwealth...NOT the U.K.
(I dont care if you live there..you ARE wrong about this)

I also spoke to a Scottish friend of mine who lives just barely north of the Scottish/English border as well as to two friends of mine (two newly immigrated couples from England)

Unfortunately the Scot was the only one with any information. The other two(and indirectly their husbands) had no idea.

This is what I was told by the gent in Scotland regarding Britain, England, The U.K and the Commonwealth.
(I am just going to quote the whole thing so you can see what I asked as well as how he replied)


Quote:
Originally Posted by meldy


What is the U.K?

Interesting but the Unification actually came about arising from the Battle of Flodden on 9th September 1513.

Interesting because Flodden is my farm and King James of Scotland died on land occupied by my farm.

The United Kingdom is indeed England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (not Eire - otherwise known as Southern Ireland)

I Quote:

always thought it was England, Scotland, Wales and part of Ireland and now I am being told (by a Scot) that it is actually the entire British Commonwealth.
So Canada and India and whatever else are actually part of the U.K. (why doesnt it say that ANYWHERE then?)

It doesn't say that because he's wrong!

Quote:

What is the difference between Britain and England?
I was using them interchangably..but they are completely different things apparently (oops?)

Great Britain is the United Kingdom - so its those that are interchangeable. England is just a part of GB and UK.

Quote:
Are Scotland, Wales, England and North Ireland still defined as their own countries or are they all subject to English law etc?
The Unification meant its a United Kingdom. Scotalnd, Wales and Ireland have some legislative powers devolved to them and their own Parliaments with limited authority to make legislation within this devolved framework. Known as Devolution. But the United Kingdom's legislative seat of power is in London.

Quote:
Wierd questions for a horse forum, sorry. ***** doesnt know the answer but said you would!
You're very welcome.

[scarletpeaches]

...(I dont care if you live there..you ARE wrong about this)...

Riiight...

I don't care what you or your friend think you know.

You are both wrong.

Funny how your friend living in Scotland makes him right (he might want to do some research on what happened in 1603 and 1707), but me being Scottish and living in Scotland doesn't have the same effect...:rolleyes:

[meldy]

The only reason I even asked him was due to the fact that Wikipedia and a number of other sites all support the answers he gave.
Not the ones you did.

So I was looking for clarification.

I am pretty sure his research is bang on.
Everything I can find regarding the Act of Union supports what he said, not what you said...so maybe you want to check your dates?
Can you direct me to some supporting evidence showing that Scotland is a totally separate country. (other than the border you claim denotes a Country border but that isnt actually present on any World Map I can find) Canada, for future reference, has a number of borders as well. Here they are called provinces and each of those has their own educatio, government etc as well. They are still part of Canada though.
I believe Scotland is referred to as constituent Country.....so I guess Yes, in the most basic terms you are correct in saying it is a country. It just cant wipe its own ass without permission first.
Oh and evidence that the title of United Kingdom actually refers to The British Commonwealth and that Canada is part of the United Kingdom.
Thanks.

[ChaosTitan]

Two choices, ladies.

You can continue this argument via Private Message, or I can split the thread and toss this into TIO. It's fascinating, but getting off-topic.

[mkcbunny]

In the interest of getting on topic again, I'll mention Showtime's series Brotherhood. Set in and about Providence, R.I. the thing about Rhode Island accents is that they're not all the same. They're a mix of the classic new England/Boston thing (South Shore emphasis) with a New York inflection. And there are many variations. People from R.I. speak in a variety of ways.

So, as far as the show goes, not everyone talks the same way, which seems authentic. However, where I have a problem is when one specific actor can't keep their own accent consistent. Some of the cast aren't as good as others. Right now, Annabeth Gish is really bothering me; I just don't buy it.

Jason Isaacs (who is English) seems to have the talk down. Of course, I keep imagining him with a long, blond wig (Harry Potter).

[Bourbon Street]

I heartily support Serenity on this one: Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: worst.accent.ever.

Sorry, I don't have a best. I guess the really good ones are ones you don't even notice.

[Sunkissed27f]

I think Meryl Streep does wonderful accents. It's what she is known for.

[AceTachyon]

I read somewhere that James Marsters was once asked by a fellow actor on "Buffy" what part of England he was from.

James is Californian.

I thought he did a good job with the accent.

[nevada]

oh i was just going to mention James Marsters. he said in an interview once that he was channeling Anthony Head's (giles) real accent.

But I guess it really is what Bourbon Street said. You don't notice the good ones.

[Sage]

After hearing him as Spike for seven years, it's really funny to hear his normal American accent.

[mkcbunny]

Did anyone catch James on Without a Trace last week (tiny little intro part)? I know that's his real voice, but with brown hair and and no accent, he sounded ... weird.

[Voyager]

eww, Meryl Streep, A Cry In The Dark

Thets moy baybee weeere tokin ebout, note som objikt!