Accents in Films: The Good, the Bad and the Cringeworthy

[canismajoris]

Originally Posted by ccollinsmith

There are actually lots of examples of UK actors pulling off convincing American accents. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson in Dead Again. (Perfect Los Angeles accents - and I'm originally Angeleno, so I should know ).
  
• Bob Hoskins in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
  
• And of course, Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind.

Irish actors Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy also do solid American accents. (I'm thinking of Colin in Minority Report and Cillian in Inception).

I defer to my UK friends on UK accents, but I did enjoy Alan Rickman's northern accent in Blow Dry. Was it supposed to be Yorkshire?

And do not forget Gary Oldman. I am too tired to compile a list at the moment, but I've heard him do several distinct and flawless American accents over the years.

[Yoana]

Can someone explain to me why everyone in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo film except Daniel Craig was speaking with a weird alien accent, when they were all supposed to be native, not immigrants?... It was easily the most bizarre thing I've seen on film in a long while.

[canismajoris]

I do remember reading that Daniel Craig either decided or was allowed to keep his own accent under the supposition that it's plausible for a Swede to have a good English accent in English. As for the rest of the cast, your guess is as good as mine.

I will say this: I barely noticed the accents (beyond noting that they did not sound Swedish). Take a movie like Hunt for Red October for further evidence of how little Americans demand or notice in this area. It's generally quite good enough for a foreign character just to have any UK accent.

[Yoana]

Originally Posted by canismajoris

I do remember reading that Daniel Craig either decided or was allowed to keep his own accent under the supposition that it's plausible for a Swede to have a good English accent in English.

I don't think it's ever plausible for a bunch of Swedish people to decide to communicate between them in English with various weird accents which cannot be traced to any existing language on earth. What's wrong with having them speak in their natural accents and trust the viewers to be intelligent enough to suspend disbelief and pretend it's Swedish? The accents were distracting and so ridiculous it almost ruined the horror at times.

I will say this: I barely noticed the accents (beyond noting that they did not sound Swedish). Take a movie like Hunt for Red October for further evidence of how little Americans demand or notice in this area. It's generally quite good enough for a foreign character just to have any UK accent.

If the characters are supposed to speak another language, but the film is American, just speak naturally - hopefully the setting and the story will be enough to convey the message that it all takes place in this or that country.

[ccollinsmith]

Originally Posted by canismajoris

And do not forget Gary Oldman. I am too tired to compile a list at the moment, but I've heard him do several distinct and flawless American accents over the years.

The first one that comes to my mind is Jim Gordon in the Batman franchise.

Originally Posted by Yoana

If the characters are supposed to speak another language, but the film is American, just speak naturally - hopefully the setting and the story will be enough to convey the message that it all takes place in this or that country.

If I recall from the Swedish film, ALL of the characters are Swedish, correct? If that's the case, then traditional American film convention would have them all speak in the same accent - usually British or American.

It appears that they've got an international cast, so British would probably be the preferred universal accent. The question is whether the American female lead could speak with a convincing British accent. If not, the character is so damaged that I don't think most filmgoers would care if she were speaking with a different accent than the rest of the cast.

At any rate, I see no reason for the cast to be speaking in a bunch of weird accents.

[canismajoris]

Originally Posted by ccollinsmith

The first one that comes to my mind is Jim Gordon in the Batman franchise.

Now that I'm awake, the ones I can think of are: Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK, Stansfield in Leon, Zarg in The Fifth Element, and Carnegie in The Book of Eli. He also did a great job voicing the American main character Jack Barnes in the video game Medal of Honor: Allied Assault.

Originally Posted by Yoana

I don't think it's ever plausible for a bunch of Swedish people to decide to communicate between them in English with various weird accents which cannot be traced to any existing language on earth. What's wrong with having them speak in their natural accents and trust the viewers to be intelligent enough to suspend disbelief and pretend it's Swedish? The accents were distracting and so ridiculous it almost ruined the horror at times.

If the characters are supposed to speak another language, but the film is American, just speak naturally - hopefully the setting and the story will be enough to convey the message that it all takes place in this or that country.

I hear what you're saying, but I think the filmmakers had to sort of draw a line somewhere in the realm of authenticity. If the idea behind making the film was to do a new and (they felt) faithful adaptation of the book, certain aspects of it would still have to at least seem Swedish to an American audience even if they really weren't.

Otherwise I can see a slippery slope appearing before them, in which questions like "why set the film in Sweden at all?" arise. The fact is, for better or worse, that our audiences are just savvy enough to notice actors with American or English accents, but not at all enough to tell the difference between a Stockholm Swede and someone faking it who sounds Finnish.

So, they seem to have gone to those lengths to reinforce that the characters were Swedish as well as the setting, however badly it may have turned out to someone with a discriminating ear. I mean, I agree with you up to a point (although I still think you should reference Hunt for Red October, as evidence that in American films accents are virtually irrelevant as long as they aren't American), I'm just trying to think through why the filmmakers did what they did. But I don't really have a good answer.

[freelantzer]

Originally Posted by Wab

When he was starting in the US Australian actor Anthony LaPaglia concentrated so much on developing a Brooklyn accent that his natural accent is almost gone.

I had no idea he was Australian! His American accent is perfect.

[Yoana]

Originally Posted by canismajoris

I hear what you're saying, but I think the filmmakers had to sort of draw a line somewhere in the realm of authenticity. If the idea behind making the film was to do a new and (they felt) faithful adaptation of the book, certain aspects of it would still have to at least seem Swedish to an American audience even if they really weren't.

Wasn't the setting enough? It was set in Sweden and they mentioned Sweden on many occasions, there were references to Swedish history and the Swedish social services system play a crucial role in the plot. I would have thought this would be enough to establish that it's a story set in Sweden and the people are supposed to be Swedish.

And even if the audience does require a language confirmation that those people are not American throughout the film, I don't think their speaking in a bunch of random accents helps much. Why are they speaking English at all, and why does one of them have an impeccable British accents while the rest just speak weirdly? Frankly, it's just distracting.

Otherwise I can see a slippery slope appearing before them, in which questions like "why set the film in Sweden at all?" arise.

I think there are more than enough reasons why the story must be set in Sweden that are obvious to the public (I mentioned some above), plus it's based on a book and follows it, I presume, faithfully.

In any case, this question can still be asked with or without the accents; actually, I personally think those accents would contribute to rather than dispel the question why set the film in Sweden at all - if they had a mostly American and British cast, why not set in in America instead of having them sound like mysterious immigrants?

So, they seem to have gone to those lengths to reinforce that the characters were Swedish as well as the setting, however badly it may have turned out to someone with a discriminating ear. I mean, I agree with you up to a point (although I still think you should reference Hunt for Red October, as evidence that in American films accents are virtually irrelevant as long as they aren't American), I'm just trying to think through why the filmmakers did what they did. But I don't really have a good answer.

No, it's not about a discriminating ear - anyone could tell they had an accent, and that's precisely what I find ridiculous, not the quality or accuracy of the accents. It's just unnecessary as far as I can see. It's implausible enough that a bunch of Swedes would be communicating in English between themselves anyway, so I don't see how making that English accented helps in any way.

[canismajoris]

Originally Posted by Yoana

Wasn't the setting enough? It was set in Sweden and they mentioned Sweden on many occasions, there were references to Swedish history and the Swedish social services system play a crucial role in the plot. I would have thought this would be enough to establish that it's a story set in Sweden and the people are supposed to be Swedish.

And even if the audience does require a language confirmation that those people are not American throughout the film, I don't think their speaking in a bunch of random accents helps much. Why are they speaking English at all, and why does one of them have an impeccable British accents while the rest just speak weirdly? Frankly, it's just distracting.

Surely you have seen some American films before?

Originally Posted by Yoana

I think there are more than enough reasons why the story must be set in Sweden that are obvious to the public (I mentioned some above), plus it's based on a book and follows it, I presume, faithfully.

In any case, this question can still be asked with or without the accents; actually, I personally think those accents would contribute to rather than dispel the question why set the film in Sweden at all - if they had a mostly American and British cast, why not set in in America instead of having them sound like mysterious immigrants?

The real answer here is "because the director said so." Personally I see it as a fairly reasonable style decision, especially since I've mentioned before, and you really must trust me on this, American audiences won't care what their accents are as long as they aren't American. Accent + Swedish written on papers and signs = speaking Swedish.

Originally Posted by Yoana

No, it's not about a discriminating ear - anyone could tell they had an accent, and that's precisely what I find ridiculous, not the quality or accuracy of the accents. It's just unnecessary as far as I can see. It's implausible enough that a bunch of Swedes would be communicating in English between themselves anyway, so I don't see how making that English accented helps in any way.

But that's what I'm suggesting, that they weren't speaking English. That's what it means that they had accents in the first place: They were speaking American Film Swedish.

As I've said, and I'm sure you've seen yourself plenty of times (must I mention The Hunt For Red October again?), that's just the technique frequently used--if the language being spoken isn't supposed to be English in the film, there very likely is a non-American accent. Otherwise, sadly, yes, people might think it was a bunch of American and English people running around Sweden.

[Yoana]

Originally Posted by canismajoris

But that's what I'm suggesting, that they weren't speaking English. That's what it means that they had accents in the first place: They were speaking American Film Swedish.

Wow. That's... that's even dumber than I thought. It's like when I was in kindergarten and spoke gibberish and totally believed it was Roma language. Yeah, I'll shut up now because I may step into offensive territory.

[Wab]

Originally Posted by freelantzer

I had no idea he was Australian! His American accent is perfect.

He also stopped giving his real birthplace because he wasn't getting any decent roles until he re-invented himself as an American.

Originally Posted by Yoana

And even if the audience does require a language confirmation that those people are not American throughout the film, I don't think their speaking in a bunch of random accents helps much. Why are they speaking English at all, and why does one of them have an impeccable British accents while the rest just speak weirdly? Frankly, it's just distracting.

I would far prefer performers to use a neutral accent than to try and fail at using a definite accent.

[Wab]

Originally Posted by Wab

When he was starting in the US Australian actor Anthony LaPaglia concentrated so much on developing a Brooklyn accent that his natural accent is almost gone.

Similarly, Gary Oldman had to get voice training for Tinker... because his native accent had been so diluted by time in the US.

Oldman The weird thing is, I had to do a bit of voice work to get my English accent back. I've not really lost my accent completely, but it is now a cross-pollination Oldman had to re-learn English

[yorkiedoodle]

that is amazing - not a problem that his sister is likely to have~:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZBuoz7_nic

[Fawkesfan1]

Saw a good American accent by Alan Rickman recently in the film, Die Hard. I didn't recognize him for a second there. Thought it was someone else for a little bit. It was pretty cool .

[Tenshi]

Watched "Hanna" two days ago and I really don't know what to think of Eric Bana's accent in that one. It just sounded wrong. I know he was supposed to play an American Ex-FBI agent, but he didn't sound American at all. I mean I don't even know what kind of accent he tried to mimic. It didn't sound Australian either.

[Wab]

Originally Posted by Fawkesfan1

Saw a good American accent by Alan Rickman recently in the film, Die Hard.

He was playing a German.

[magic_is_might]

I'm sure he's been brought up several times, but I'm always impressed at Hugh Laurie's flawless accent. I honestly thought he was American until I heard him speak in an interview and learned that he was obviously not American.

[Pan_Kleks]

Originally Posted by canismajoris

And do not forget Gary Oldman. I am too tired to compile a list at the moment, but I've heard him do several distinct and flawless American accents over the years.

I think you're all forgetting Christian Bale? The man is Welsh, he's perfected the American accent.

[Fawkesfan1]

Originally Posted by Wab

He was playing a German.

I know, he was trying to fool Bruce Willis's character in a scene, so he faked that he was an American. That's the part where he was using an American accent.

[yorkiedoodle]

Originally Posted by Pan_Kleks

I think you're all forgetting Christian Bale? The man is Welsh, he's perfected the American accent.

Gosh I never knew he was British!

When I saw the Kings Speech I was quite impressed with the Australian accent of Jennifer Ehle, but when an Australian friend saw the film she commented that the accent was much more a New Zealand one than an Australian one...