The so-called Polish accents in Jakob the Liar were pretty bad. I have two friends with heavy Polish accents and the actors didn’t sound like them at all. They sounded more like Russians or something. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t Polish. Still loved the movie though.
I actually did meet someone in France this summer who had an English accent. Then again, she was English and working in the English book store.
The Americanized British accent really pisses me off. It’s always perfectly pronounced and articulated and gaaaah! No one talks like that! There are a billion and seventeen different British dialects and none of them are that well-articulated.
Here’s another vote for Orli and Ewan in Black Hawk Down. I mean, the movie wasn’t fabulous anyway, but when I’m distracted by the accents . . . Especially Orli’s “Well, I’m here to kick some ass.” Ugh. throws things at television screen
Although I did find Ewan’s coffee-making speech very amusing.
Speaking of Ewan MacGregor…his next project is with Tim Burton and is called Big Fish . I read the book and they are filming it in Alabama. I hope Ewan can pull off a better American accent this time. Albert Finney plays his dad and I’m pretty sure he’s either American or can do the accent.
Finney’s from Salford near Manchester (the original one, not Connecticut etc.).
The incomparable and curmudgeondly **Joe Queenan ** from * Movie Line * recently discussed this very subject.
Summarizing, sometimes accents are a draw as much as an actor themselves. Sometimes they are a car wreck that detracts from the picture. Sometimes the picture is unsalvagable but the accent makes it more entertaining. Feh.
**Brad Pitt ** in **Snatch ** was nearly undecipherable, but it was critical to the plot, as everyone was concerned about dealing with the Pikeys. Pitt was an absolute scream. One of my top ten films for those who want to know.
**Brad Pitt ** in **Meet Joe Black ** doing a Jamaican accent, which I thought was great, but then again, I’ve never been there.
**Brad Pitt ** in **Devil’s Own ** Terrible film but I felt his Northern Irish Accent was probably more dead on than the typical Leprachaun accents via Mickey Rooney that we are innundated with here.
**Linda Fiorintino ** I forget the movie, but it was with a very young Anthony Edwards. Her accent is just awful and borderless.
**Morgan Freeman ** in **Robin Hood: Prince of Theives. The best villian in 25 years ( Allan Rickman) is nearly ruined by Costner acting and Freeman’s on again-off again infidel accent.