What is it with American actors??
-
Paul Watson wrote: You can actually believe they are people in a vivid story, not an actor pretending to be a person in a vivid story. Part of this problem, though, is that the actors get known, and while the studios don't believe in type-casting, the audiences do. It's difficult for Mel Gibson to be seen as anything other than an action cop hero, (or as someone trying to understand women, in ... whatever movie that was). He is just known for that, and it would be difficult for anyone to accept when he tried playing an Irish clergyman or something. Mentally, the audience couldn't relate. Newer actors don't have that problem yet, as the audiences haven't developed any knowledge of their work. There are some exceptions, though, of actors who are always changing movie environments, and they still have some success at being believable. Dave "You can say that again." -- Dept. of Redundancy Dept.
David Chamberlain wrote: Part of this problem, though, is that the actors get known, and while the studios don't believe in type-casting, the audiences do While I am no expert on the topic I believe you are very right. However really good actors pick and choose their roles, avoid being type casted and can work in virtually any role (naturally Dame Judy Dench cannot play Seven of Nine in Star Trek as certain physical attributes are required) successfully. Actors like Dame Judy Dench have done everything from hard police inspector through to gentle grandmother. She pulls them off amazingly well and even though we all know she is a tough cookie when you see her playing a gentle role you come to really believe that she is gentle. Arnold in a gentle role just does not work, no matter how hard he tries, he comes off as goofy when he does try, not gentle. So a good actor can rise above type casting IMHO :) regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Sonork ID: 100.9903 Stormfront
-
Paul Watson wrote: Same with actors trying to do South African accents. I watched Mission Impossible 2 and nearly had a hernia I laughed so hard at the so called "South African" in the film (the hench man of the bad guy.) However a friend who was from the UK said to me "hey, that guy does a South African accent quite well." I had a good laugh when watching "Swordfish", the Finnish guy, obviously a Linus clone, were speaking GERMAN!. Ok, maybe it is hard to find a decent actor who also speaks Finnish :-D , but please... Jan "It could have been worse, it could have been ME!"
It's not uncommon. I have been told by Norwegian friends that the Norwegians in John Carpenter's "The Thing" speak German(ish).
-
changing accents is a talent separate from acting itself. and some people have the talent, and some don't. i don't think your conclusion that it's somehow an "american" fault is justified - and frankly it's a bit disturbing. -c
Smaller Animals Software, Inc. You're the icing - on the cake - on the table - at my wake. Modest Mouse
Chris Losinger wrote: i don't think your conclusion that it's somehow an "american" fault is justified - and frankly it's a bit disturbing Isn't it amazing all the 'American's are like this' 'American's are like that' stuff you hear from people around the world? I actually find it quite amusing, and find myself compeled to play along with it. The great irony is that *we* are *them* - just an amalgamation of the varios peoples of the world welded together by a slightly different take on culture and politics. Logically, how is it possible that we could really be all that much different? "There's a slew of slip 'twixt cup and lip"
-
Stan Shannon wrote: By 'American Accent' you undoubtedly mean the standard 'Midwestern' accent which is generally regarded as the "American Accent". I should think that it would be a fairly easy accent for anyone to pick up. It has such a flat, and monotone resonance. Ok so what american regional accent are most of the sitcoms and dramas done in? e.g. West Wing, Spin City etc. etc. Is that mid west? And then you get the very heavy "twangy" accent which is what I think of as why most people cannot stand American accents. People with that accent say things like "ooohh mmmmwwwyyaa gggaawwddd!" What region is that? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Sonork ID: 100.9903 Stormfront
-
Chris Losinger wrote: i don't think your conclusion that it's somehow an "american" fault is justified - and frankly it's a bit disturbing Isn't it amazing all the 'American's are like this' 'American's are like that' stuff you hear from people around the world? I actually find it quite amusing, and find myself compeled to play along with it. The great irony is that *we* are *them* - just an amalgamation of the varios peoples of the world welded together by a slightly different take on culture and politics. Logically, how is it possible that we could really be all that much different? "There's a slew of slip 'twixt cup and lip"
Stan Shannon wrote: Isn't it amazing all the 'American's are like this' 'American's are like that' stuff you hear from people around the world? Perhaps the fact that American (cultural) influence is so widespread has something to do with that ?
-
-c
Smaller Animals Software, Inc. You're the icing - on the cake - on the table - at my wake. Modest Mouse
-
Chris Losinger wrote: i don't think your conclusion that it's somehow an "american" fault is justified - and frankly it's a bit disturbing Isn't it amazing all the 'American's are like this' 'American's are like that' stuff you hear from people around the world? I actually find it quite amusing, and find myself compeled to play along with it. The great irony is that *we* are *them* - just an amalgamation of the varios peoples of the world welded together by a slightly different take on culture and politics. Logically, how is it possible that we could really be all that much different? "There's a slew of slip 'twixt cup and lip"
Stan Shannon wrote: Isn't it amazing all the 'American's are like this' 'American's are like that' stuff you hear from people around the world? Yes, quite amazing. And the French are rude and smelly (or does that apply to all them European snobs), and the English have bad teeth (could someone explain that one to me), and the... it-works-both-ways-you-know-ly y'rs --pg :)
-
Stan Shannon wrote: By 'American Accent' you undoubtedly mean the standard 'Midwestern' accent which is generally regarded as the "American Accent". I should think that it would be a fairly easy accent for anyone to pick up. It has such a flat, and monotone resonance. Ok so what american regional accent are most of the sitcoms and dramas done in? e.g. West Wing, Spin City etc. etc. Is that mid west? And then you get the very heavy "twangy" accent which is what I think of as why most people cannot stand American accents. People with that accent say things like "ooohh mmmmwwwyyaa gggaawwddd!" What region is that? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Sonork ID: 100.9903 Stormfront
Paul Watson wrote: ooohh mmmmwwwyyaa gggaawwddd Simi Valley, California. Repulsive, isn't it? Rent a copy of "Valley Girl" sometime if you reallywant to learn the dialect.
-
"Troll" (noun) : an inflammatory statement intended to generate responses - not necessarily the true feelings of the author. "-1" (vector) : indicates the intended moderation intensity and direction for the post. i felt your post was a troll and moderated it down one. since CP isn't running Slashcode, the moderation has no effect. if this was SlashDot, or Plastic, or any other site using Slashcode, your post would've lost a moderation point and would probably disappear from many people's sight. :) (this would probably be modded -1, Offtopic and would similarly disappear) -c
Smaller Animals Software, Inc. You're the icing - on the cake - on the table - at my wake. Modest Mouse
-
"Troll" (noun) : an inflammatory statement intended to generate responses - not necessarily the true feelings of the author. "-1" (vector) : indicates the intended moderation intensity and direction for the post. i felt your post was a troll and moderated it down one. since CP isn't running Slashcode, the moderation has no effect. if this was SlashDot, or Plastic, or any other site using Slashcode, your post would've lost a moderation point and would probably disappear from many people's sight. :) (this would probably be modded -1, Offtopic and would similarly disappear) -c
Smaller Animals Software, Inc. You're the icing - on the cake - on the table - at my wake. Modest Mouse
Chris Losinger wrote: the moderation has no effect. Yes it does, it affects me here Chris *taps my heart* ;P Chris Losinger wrote: would probably disappear from many people's sight. My name has that affect automatically ;P I am my own Slashcode :laugh: Chris Losinger wrote: (this would probably be modded -1, Offtopic and would similarly disappear) Oh I don't know, it answers my question perfectly and so is totally on-topic for this particular sub-thread. In fact I would put "Noddy Bage +5" on the header ;P However I must stress, and in my defense, it was not the entire intent of my original post to inflame people. I honestly believe British actors are better on average than American actors, it is my true feeling. However, you can think what you will, it is a free country after all, eh noddy badge boy... ;P (naturally this post is very much a Troll -10, vector, charlie, alpha bravo come in geek code *squawk* Im going down! Quick, buffer override! no call Chris L, he has ten noddy badges, he can save the day! vector vector) regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Sonork ID: 100.9903 Stormfront
-
Hi guys, I caught a glimpse of Jeniffer Love Hewitt playing Audrey Hepburn in some biographical film and immediately wondered..."hey, shouldn't Audrey Hepburn have an English accent??" And that got me thinking about how strange it is that American actors are so poor at playing accents other than their own. Don Cheadle in Oceans 11 was comical because of his poor cockney accent (which might have been the intended effect). Rene Zelweigg...whatever, had only a passable English accent in Bridget Jones and the list goes on I guess. On the flipside, English and Australian actors get American accents down pat. Didn't Anthony Hopkins play some American president in a film? And growing up I thought Mel Gibson was American. We have Russel Crowe playing a hard boiled American cop in LA Confidential, you have Heath Ledger, you have that guy in Dune who I think is actually British. Wierd. Has an american ever succesfully puled off an Aussie accent for example?? Just another wannabe code junky
The American actors don't have to pull off other accents. The movie industry revolves around Hollywood, CA, USA. If it revolved around Sydney, Australia, you'd have every acting school in the country teaching the students how to perform a proper Australian accent. Jon Sagara What about :bob:? Sonork ID: 100.9999 jonsagara
-
Hi guys, I caught a glimpse of Jeniffer Love Hewitt playing Audrey Hepburn in some biographical film and immediately wondered..."hey, shouldn't Audrey Hepburn have an English accent??" And that got me thinking about how strange it is that American actors are so poor at playing accents other than their own. Don Cheadle in Oceans 11 was comical because of his poor cockney accent (which might have been the intended effect). Rene Zelweigg...whatever, had only a passable English accent in Bridget Jones and the list goes on I guess. On the flipside, English and Australian actors get American accents down pat. Didn't Anthony Hopkins play some American president in a film? And growing up I thought Mel Gibson was American. We have Russel Crowe playing a hard boiled American cop in LA Confidential, you have Heath Ledger, you have that guy in Dune who I think is actually British. Wierd. Has an american ever succesfully puled off an Aussie accent for example?? Just another wannabe code junky
-
British actors can master an American accent easier because they can finally release the tension in their sphincter enough to speak like they're not about to swallow their tongue. "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001
I have two points to make on this subject:- 1) You are talking out of your arse and 2) You are talking out of your arse. Whilst technically speaking these are the same point , I felt that it would help emphasis the point if I mentioned it twice . (Thanks Red Dwarf) There isn't an American accent , there isn't a British accent . They vary tremendously from place to place. The typical movie British accent is not normally heard no matter where you go. Try comparing a welsh accent to a Scottish to a Cornish to an Ulster accent. Regards Torrance
-
Hi guys, I caught a glimpse of Jeniffer Love Hewitt playing Audrey Hepburn in some biographical film and immediately wondered..."hey, shouldn't Audrey Hepburn have an English accent??" And that got me thinking about how strange it is that American actors are so poor at playing accents other than their own. Don Cheadle in Oceans 11 was comical because of his poor cockney accent (which might have been the intended effect). Rene Zelweigg...whatever, had only a passable English accent in Bridget Jones and the list goes on I guess. On the flipside, English and Australian actors get American accents down pat. Didn't Anthony Hopkins play some American president in a film? And growing up I thought Mel Gibson was American. We have Russel Crowe playing a hard boiled American cop in LA Confidential, you have Heath Ledger, you have that guy in Dune who I think is actually British. Wierd. Has an american ever succesfully puled off an Aussie accent for example?? Just another wannabe code junky
It's worse when an actor starts off doing a foreign accent and then "forgets" to do it half way through the film. Not (Kevin Costner) mentioning any (Robin Hood) names of course. :rolleyes: Even worse than that, in my opinion, is where movies, games, etc. who are portraying a story in a foreign language cop out of actually using the orgininal language and simply speak English with the foreign accent. Not mentioning any (Return to Castle Wolfenstein) names of course. :rolleyes: Why not throw away a dime? I throw away ten pennies all the time.
-
"Troll" (noun) : an inflammatory statement intended to generate responses - not necessarily the true feelings of the author. "-1" (vector) : indicates the intended moderation intensity and direction for the post. i felt your post was a troll and moderated it down one. since CP isn't running Slashcode, the moderation has no effect. if this was SlashDot, or Plastic, or any other site using Slashcode, your post would've lost a moderation point and would probably disappear from many people's sight. :) (this would probably be modded -1, Offtopic and would similarly disappear) -c
Smaller Animals Software, Inc. You're the icing - on the cake - on the table - at my wake. Modest Mouse
Totally off Topic, But congratulations on making over 1000 CP posts Chris :-) Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
Most people should stick to calculators, Isaac Sasson 28 th Law of Computing: Anything that can go wr# Segmentation violation -- Core dumped
-
Senkwe Chanda wrote: I thought Mel Gibson was American Mel Gibson *is* American. He was born here and taken to Australia as a child by his dad (I'm not sure what age, but I don't think he was an infant). Actually, most American actors can't get their own regional accents correct. I cringe everytime I here a non-Southern actor trying to sound Southern. By 'American Accent' you undoubtedly mean the standard 'Midwestern' accent which is generally regarded as the "American Accent". I should think that it would be a fairly easy accent for anyone to pick up. It has such a flat, and monotone resonance. "There's a slew of slip 'twixt cup and lip"
Stan Shannon wrote: I cringe everytime I here a non-Southern actor trying to sound Southern. Southern from where? Georgia, Alabama, East Tennessee, West Tennessee, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi all have their own accents. Jeff Foxworthy tells this story:
I had been in L.A. six months when a part in a movie came up for a "skinny, funny Southern guy." I started reading for it, and got three lines into it when the casting guy says "Can you do a real Southern accent?" I was so mad I was driving home beating the steering wheel.
My nomination for worst "Southern" accent has got to be Jessica Lange playing Maggie the Cat opposite Tommy Lee Jones's Brick in a TV production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof about 20 years ago. She screeches around and you have no idea where in the South she is supposed to be from...
-
Stan Shannon wrote: I cringe everytime I here a non-Southern actor trying to sound Southern. Southern from where? Georgia, Alabama, East Tennessee, West Tennessee, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi all have their own accents. Jeff Foxworthy tells this story:
I had been in L.A. six months when a part in a movie came up for a "skinny, funny Southern guy." I started reading for it, and got three lines into it when the casting guy says "Can you do a real Southern accent?" I was so mad I was driving home beating the steering wheel.
My nomination for worst "Southern" accent has got to be Jessica Lange playing Maggie the Cat opposite Tommy Lee Jones's Brick in a TV production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof about 20 years ago. She screeches around and you have no idea where in the South she is supposed to be from...
Jonathan Gilligan wrote: Southern from where? Georgia, Alabama, East Tennessee, West Tennessee, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi all have their own accents. Yes, I alluded to that in some of my other posts. In fact, if you ever want to hear a *real* drawl go to the Texas panhandle country some time! Jonathan Gilligan wrote: My nomination for worst "Southern" accent has got to be Jessica Lange Have you seen the previews for Mel Gibson's lastest movie? Good God a'mighty he sounds awful. "There's a slew of slip 'twixt cup and lip"
-
Totally off Topic, But congratulations on making over 1000 CP posts Chris :-) Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
Most people should stick to calculators, Isaac Sasson 28 th Law of Computing: Anything that can go wr# Segmentation violation -- Core dumped
wow ! :) now i need the 25 articles and i can be (have?) a platinum member. (14 to go!) -c
Smaller Animals Software, Inc. You're the icing - on the cake - on the table - at my wake. Modest Mouse
-
I have two points to make on this subject:- 1) You are talking out of your arse and 2) You are talking out of your arse. Whilst technically speaking these are the same point , I felt that it would help emphasis the point if I mentioned it twice . (Thanks Red Dwarf) There isn't an American accent , there isn't a British accent . They vary tremendously from place to place. The typical movie British accent is not normally heard no matter where you go. Try comparing a welsh accent to a Scottish to a Cornish to an Ulster accent. Regards Torrance
Man, you'd almost think you were new here. Take a pill and look up "sense of humor" (or humour for our british-speakers) on the web. I'm sure you should find one somewhere, if only you'd look. "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001