# My ears! my ears! (bad accents in movies) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 7, 2002, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746 "2002-08-07T11:04:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/101 "2002-08-11T21:53:26Z")
Someone mentioned the movie **Fargo** earlier in this thread… I saw that movie in the theaters when I was living away from here and thought the accents were spot-on - til I saw it again a few months ago. The accents were just off enough to set my teeth on edge. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/102 "2002-08-11T23:02:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheSparkofCreation \* > \*\*Don’t forget “Ever After” where EVERYONE IN FRANCE HAS A BRITISH ACCENT. Apparently. I mean, I’ve never been to France… so… \*\* * * * Everyone in **The Gambler** , which is set in Russia, has that British accent too. Man, those British folks really get around. 😉 And speaking of Russia, everyone in **K19-The Widowmaker** is doing a Russian accent, which makes no sense since they’re all RUSSIANS on a RUSSIAN sub! I guess they just didn’t trust us audience members to accept anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/103 "2002-08-11T23:24:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ruffian \* > \*\*Holy bat crap, Zoff, you’re telling me he of talentless fame did this _twice_?! > > First thing I thought of when I saw this thread was Keanu’s on-again, off-again pseudo-southern accent in _The Devil’s Advocate_. It got **so** bad that it became a running gag for my friend and I as we were watching–“There it is! It’s back! Whoop, no accent here. Ah, now it’s back!” > > Truly, how the hell one of eh-looks and mind-numbingly vapid acting skill continues to find work is beyond me. \*\* Only twice? You obviously haven’t seen many of his movies. The one that springs to my mind is _Much Ado About Nothing_. Yeesh. Come to think of it, Michael Keaton’s accent was…unique…in that one as well. Beetlejuice goes to Cornwall, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/104 "2002-08-12T00:36:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vivalostwages \* > \*\* > Everyone in **The Gambler** , which is set in Russia, has that British accent too. Man, those British folks really get around. 😉 > \*\* Ever notice how so many movie villains, especially those in sci-fi and fantasy flicks, speak with a posh English accent? Even if the character in question comes from another planet, a magical realm, or a time in the far distant past or future? This used to puzzle me, but I now realize that it’s just because they were all in boarding school together. Hogwarts, House Slytherin. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/105 "2002-08-12T00:37:40Z")
julia roberts-mike collins/mary reilly brad pitt in the ira terrorist role and harrison ford kinda sucks on the widowmaker ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/106 "2002-08-12T00:41:57Z")
Stop! reading back, i have to agree - dan ackyroyd driving miss daisy. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/107 "2002-08-12T13:44:07Z")
Well, **Intaglio** , as someone born in West Virginia, and who has lived most of his life in Georgia (including a stint in Savannah), I have to disagree with you. Spacey’s accent, while not terrible, was hardly perfect. In fact, it was “off” enough to be a distraction for me while watching the film. And Russell Crowe doesn’t even come close to replicating John Nash (or _any_ West Virginia accent that I’ve ever heard). ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/108 "2002-08-12T13:49:09Z")
Oh yeah, and I’ll chime in and agree that Dan Ackroyd was the worst. That he was nominated for an Oscar for his performance is proof that Hollywood has a tin ear. ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/109 "2002-08-12T14:13:20Z")
It’s not only the accent that lends authenticity to a role, but the natural malapropisms that occur when one speaks a foreign language. Consider Meryl Streep in Sophie’s Choice, when she compliments Stingo on his “new cocksucker jacket”. Or the “French soldier” in the Holy Grail who “fart(s) in your general direction”. These would be natural mistakes for people, and I’m always disappointed that writers don’t include a few. Too many actors attempt an accent by speaking perfectly pronounced and structured English. ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/110 "2002-08-12T14:55:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*What do you think of the Peoria-born David Ogden Stiers as Charles Emerson Winchester, III? \*\* I think David Ogden Stiers should be told that NEW England is not the same as ENGLAND. ---
**Author:** ![UWmite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UWmite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UWmite)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/111 "2002-08-12T20:06:42Z")
Sweet merciful crap, Kevin Costner’s Bahston accent needs to be executed. Now. When Fargo came out, I know a lot of my fellow Minnesotans were mighty pissed. Many times their complaining was adorable, something along the lines of “Ooh goash dat Fargoo was awwful. Wee just doon’t talk like dat around here, dooncha know.” Yeah, most of the people from the Cities don’t have much of an accent, but get more than an hours drive from Minneapolis/St. Paul, and the Scanahoovians just crawl out of the wood panelling. I should know - I’m one of 'em. They may have been played up a little in the movie, but it wasn’t all that far from the truth. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/112 "2002-08-12T20:56:50Z")
As I said in a previous post Spoke, Russell Crowe was not replicating a West Virginia accent. I don’t think Dr. Nash had an accent, and even if he did, going to school, and living in the North, as he has done for more than half of his life, any accent would diminish. He completely got the way John Nash speaks, his use of langauage, diction, mannerisms, etc. I have heard Dr. Nash, in person and interviews, and Russell Crowe had it correct. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/113 "2002-08-12T23:42:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SolGrundy \* > **On the other hand, I was impressed with Jodie Foster’s southern accent in _Silence of the Lambs_. It was too overdone to be accurate, but it worked for the part and it was believable.** Wasn’t Clarice Starling supposed to be from West Virginia? I remember Hannibal Lector making some snide allusions to hillbillies and coal miners. WV doesn’t really count as “south” does it? ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/114 "2002-08-13T01:45:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sofa King \* > \*\*I’d like to cite generally the film _On the Beach_, where we are led to believe that the entire city of Melbourne speaks a charming variant of American Midwest. \*\* I realize that in the case of Fred Astaire, he probably just wasn’t trying, but this made me recall an kid I used to know from Melbourne who sounded just like an American when he spoke (except when he said the word “Melbourne”). Is this common in Melbourne, or was he an odd case. He certainly wasn’t happy when I pointed this out to him. Bad accent: The “cockney” explosives expert in the new version of Ocean’s 11. How rotten was that accent? And of course there’s all the guys from Moty Python talking like John Wayne when they do “American.” Good accent: I’ve always been really impressed with Minnie Driver’s Michigan girl in Grosse Pointe Blank. Flawless. Re Brad Pitt’s accent in Snatch: an Irish friend of mine felt it was very convincing. Does this not match the general consensus? ---
**Author:** ![albatross37](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@albatross37](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/albatross37)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/115 "2002-08-13T08:14:46Z")
Tim Curry in “Congo” Kevin Pollack in “Whole Nine Yards” (although I think it was intentional and it worked!) Bobcat Goldthwait in “Police Academy I-VII” how about _surprisingly_ well done accents: Brad Pitt in “Snatch” Richard Gere in “The Jackal” Renee Zellweger in “Bridget Jones’ Diary” m ---
**Author:** ![Zoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6de8d8/32.png) [@Zoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoff)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/116 "2002-08-13T11:50:58Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Ruffian_ > Holy bat crap, Zoff, you’re telling me he of talentless fame did this twice?! > > First thing I thought of when I saw this thread was Keanu’s on-again, off-again pseudo-southern accent in The Devil’s Advocate. Well, to be honest, my therapist told me I’ve been repressing memories of _The Devil’s Advocate_. But that was a truly awful accent. And, as an aside, the scene when he comes home and celebrates his court victory with his wife should win some sort of award for Worst Acting by a Screen Couple. It looked like really bad community theater magnified by the horrible use of accents. ---
**Author:** ![Zoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6de8d8/32.png) [@Zoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoff)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/117 "2002-08-13T12:02:03Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Hodge_ > Wasn’t Clarice Starling supposed to be from West Virginia? I remember Hannibal Lector making some snide allusions to hillbillies and coal miners. WV doesn’t really count as “south” does it? Starling was from West Virginia and West Virginia is considered south, both geographically and culturally. It’s different from, say, Georgia, but it’s definitely a southern state. And I agree that Jodie Foster’s accent was good. She did a good job of being a woman with an accent trying to minimize her accent. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/118 "2002-08-13T13:08:47Z")
I wanted to reinforce that Kenneth Brannagh’s American accent is quite good. In Dead Again, he made a few minor errors (which I can’t quite remember, just now), so I’d give him a B+. Emma Thompson generally does a fair imitation of American - probably not good enough to fool anyone, but not thoroughly distracting by its awfulness, unlike: All the American characters on the Britcom (soap opera? What genre IS it?) “As Time Goes By”. I watch it rebroadcast on PBS, and the forced Rs and heavy-weight boxer style vowels are enough to make my ears weep. To bring up Monty Python once more, their American accents were painfully horrible, though I agree with whoever it was that suggested it may have been intentional. Since their American characters were usually flashy hyper-American things like cowboys an film producers, it isn’t a suprise. HOWEVER, Carol Cleveland does a terrific American Movie Star in one python sketch (a la Marilyn Monroe) - but I believe she spent much of her childhood in the US, which I consider cheating. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/119 "2002-08-13T13:12:43Z")
Hugo Weaving’s middle American accent in _The Matrix_ was practically perfect, as was Jon Voight’s Memphis accent in _The Rainmaker_. My pet peeve is when there’s a household of accents from all over the place, all under the guise of “southern”. The father sounds like he’s from Tennessee, the mother from Texas, the daughter from Georgia, and the son from Alabama. I guess it all sounds the same to the director. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746/120 "2002-08-13T15:55:46Z")
**Intaglio** wrote: > [@](#): > > Russell Crowe was not replicating a West Virginia accent. Boy, you can say _that_ again. And do you mean to say that Nash wouldn’t have _had_ an accent, even when he arrived at Harvard from the hills of West Virginia. (You remember–_the whole first half of the movie_?) So you’ve hear Nash speak? Big deal. So have I. Saw his whole 60 Minutes interview. He _does_ still have an accent, albeit a mild one these days, and (sorry) Crowe sounded nothing like him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ears-my-ears-bad-accents-in-movies/122746.md?page=7)