Alyson HillAccents in Film
April 2nd 2008 20:57
I am no actor, but I have 'played' with accents since I was a small child. They fascinate me. I love to listen to the subtle differences between Victorians and Queenslanders here in Australia, the various Americans fascinate me, and the Scottish accent is to die for. Yes, my next husband will certainly be Ewan MacGregor Scottish. Sorry Honey.
I've heard recently that Brad Pitt is up for a role as an Englishman in a movie to be made later this year and it worries me a little. I love Braddles, who doesn't, but it kind of got on my nerves hearing him trying not to be American in Troy. He is so much the All American boy, that I'm not sure he can grind his accent down enough to take roles like that. In Troy, the international cast all seemed able to flatten out their accents to a broad, primitive type English. Except for Brad.
I forgive him though, because he is in good company. I thought Nicholas Cage had an Italian heritage, so why does his accent in Captain Corelli's Mandolin grate on me so? It's a caricature! And the lovely Meryl Streep, such a fine actress, and I think I'd also really like her as a person, just between you and me, because I think she may be a big dag. Her Aussie accent was cringeworthy in that dingo movie we all know and errrm saw. And her Italian ( I assume that's what she was playing) in Bridges of Madsion County, was so bad I couldn't actually finish watching the film. I felt embarrassed for her.
Finally, an accent I was surprised to hear mangled was Nicole Kidman's South African accent in The Interpreter. Not so strangled as the previous mentioned, but having grown up with a friend from South Africa, it seemed to be overly annunciated, like if you heard an Australian bushie saying 'Good on you Fellow' instead of 'G'donya Maate' do you know what I mean? Now, you could point out that as her character is from a fictitious country in South Africa, she could get away with anything she likes and you'd be right...but, it jarred the whole film for me everytime she spoke.
Is it just me? Am I way more anal about such things than anyone has a right to be?
I've heard recently that Brad Pitt is up for a role as an Englishman in a movie to be made later this year and it worries me a little. I love Braddles, who doesn't, but it kind of got on my nerves hearing him trying not to be American in Troy. He is so much the All American boy, that I'm not sure he can grind his accent down enough to take roles like that. In Troy, the international cast all seemed able to flatten out their accents to a broad, primitive type English. Except for Brad.
I forgive him though, because he is in good company. I thought Nicholas Cage had an Italian heritage, so why does his accent in Captain Corelli's Mandolin grate on me so? It's a caricature! And the lovely Meryl Streep, such a fine actress, and I think I'd also really like her as a person, just between you and me, because I think she may be a big dag. Her Aussie accent was cringeworthy in that dingo movie we all know and errrm saw. And her Italian ( I assume that's what she was playing) in Bridges of Madsion County, was so bad I couldn't actually finish watching the film. I felt embarrassed for her.
Finally, an accent I was surprised to hear mangled was Nicole Kidman's South African accent in The Interpreter. Not so strangled as the previous mentioned, but having grown up with a friend from South Africa, it seemed to be overly annunciated, like if you heard an Australian bushie saying 'Good on you Fellow' instead of 'G'donya Maate' do you know what I mean? Now, you could point out that as her character is from a fictitious country in South Africa, she could get away with anything she likes and you'd be right...but, it jarred the whole film for me everytime she spoke.
Is it just me? Am I way more anal about such things than anyone has a right to be?
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Brad's Irish gypsy accent in Snatch was hilarious and also pretty much unintelligible...supposedly on set every one laughed so much at his attempt that they decided to keep it in even though its in no way a reflection of any existing dialect.
For a South African accent I thought Stephen Dorff did a good one in "The Power of One"
Brando and Montgomery Clift both were able to nail the English accent with a skill few have matched.
Agreed Kidman's was laughable but then she has never been much of an actress.
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Brad's Irish accent was also abominable in The Devils Own.
I remember being really surprised the first time I ever heard Colin Farrell talk in an interview. Until then I hadn't even realised he was Irish. I just assumed he was American as his accent is so good.
I'm with you too, Scottish accents definitely do it for me (and Irish ones).
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
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Comment by Alyson Hill
Screen Trip
I'd forgotten how bad Kevin Costner is at them...his Robin Hood was shocking despite his funny bum. Liam Neeson swings back and forward very well, but of course, he has lived in both places, like Pierce Brosnan. I think I'm showing my age.