Spacey's accent? - Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000) Discussion

[–] bigkev49 18 years ago

Spaceys accent is ridiculous. Its that of a man from the north of Ireland whereas Martin Cahill, the man the film is based on, was a Dubliner. Also his "wives" accents are completely different to each other despite the fact they are supposed to be sisters!
Bad Film, Terrible accents
Tíocfaidh ár Lá------Our Day Will Come

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[–] BombayBadBoy 18 years ago

I'm not even Irish and even I can tell you the accents are bad (bad meaning bad)

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[–] machofox 18 years ago

Spacey's accent is absolutely horrendous.

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[–] mattmobile 18 years ago

Isn't it just. The film is a terrible mish-mash of assorted and completely incorrect accents from everyone. I mean, Kevin Spacey - Helen Baxendale - Peter Mullan.....could they not find any Irish actors?

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] get_to_the_choppa 18 years ago

Spacey's accent is the worst of the lot. It's crazy considering how good an actor he's supposed to be and how easy the irish accent is to reproduced. The only person who gets it anywhere near right (besides Colin Farrell who doesn't count, because he is Irish) is Helen Baxendale... but even then, she's a bit off!

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[–] rochie16 17 years ago

What do you mean Colin Farell gets the accent right? It's his accent, dumbass.

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[–] unapologetic_mocker 17 years ago

uh yeah...thedavesterie I was talking about Kevin Spaceys accent not Colin farells! I was just commenting that I do like the movie, that its the only colin farell movie i like, but that Spaceys accent was a major downer for me despite these things.

But hey, next time you want to go being obnoxious to people try reading what they actually wrote first, it's much more effective that way!

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[–] dylank381 12 years ago

Hey, you should check out In Bruges. Great movie with Colin Farrell

"This is a $4000 sofa upholstered in Italian silk. Its not just a couch"
"ITS JUST A COUCH!"

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[–] the_durden 18 years ago

The simple answer to that from an Irish person is NO - his accent is very unconvincing, its a bad mix between a Dublin accent,Northern Irish accent.Because he naturally has an American accent and he is trying to have an Irish accent - alot of the time he sounds Canadian in this movie.
Great Actor but shocking attempt at an Irish accent.

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[–] oc_uk 18 years ago

i agree, im from northern ireland and i think he sounds like people from the top of the country not a dubliner

kirsten-I may like Chardonay, but I am not gonna die alone and that's more than I can say for you!

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[–] deejaystrider 16 years ago

Well i reckon Tommy Lee Jones in Blown away tops spacey's,now that was REALLY Sh.it,absolutly nothing like an Irish accent,but the best is probably Brad Pitt's,he is alright,Also one more *beep* one,Julia Roberts in Michael collins,Fu..ckin Shocking.

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[–] Mymessages74 18 years ago

The accents were just beyond rubbish. Why couldn't they get some Irish actors? The performances were bad too. Embarrassing stuff, "to be sure".

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[–] unapologetic_mocker 17 years ago

I love this movie, I watch it whenever I see it on (which inconveniently is usually around 11 til 3 in the morning) but Spaceys accent!!! It's BRUTAL! I cringe every time! Its the only movie I can stand watching Colin Farell in...

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[–] superflyninja 17 years ago

OMG Helen Baxendale's accent is desperate, when she tells the child to "get off the bleedin bike" i nearly cried with pity for her...
Kevin Spacys accent wasnt the worst, but what i dont understand is, we have some very talented actors and actresses in Ireland, why oh why do they feel the need to draft some ill suited people from England to take the role(and ruin the accent)??? Is it so English people will watch it or what, someone please enlighten me

Before anyone slates me for hating English people. I dont. i lived there and love england and have lots of family there

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[–] furious_georgina 17 years ago

I couldn't agree more, Kevin Spacey is an amazing actor but he is TERRIBLE at the irish accent, his charachter was supposed to be from Dublin however his accent sounded like a mix of a northern accent and a canadian one!! The only accent worse than his was Helen Baxendales.....it was horrendous! There are so many good irish actors out there why not use a movie with them!

The only american actor who has pulled off an Irish accent is Jon Voight, his accent was perfect in the General, if I hadn't known who he was already I would have just assumed he was an Irish actor.

I'm in my tree talking to the Dixie Chicks and they're making me feel better

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[–] jynxy_byrne 17 years ago

American actors in general should stay away from Irish accents. (the same could be said of Irish doing American accents ie. Brendan Gleeson in Lake Placid) Check out all these stinkers.
Tom Cruise. Far and Away
Julia Roberts. Micheal Collins
Brad Pitt. Snatch and Devils Own.
I could bother thinking of more but it's too upsetting.
I'm going to me leaba (Irish for bed)

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[–] TNI-Mark 17 years ago

I have to disagree about Brad Pitt's accent in Snatch.
Only because that's supposed to be more like a parody of an irish accent.
The whole concept of his character is that no one can understand anything he is saying. If he were to just talk with a genuine sounding irish accent, it wouldn't have the same effect.

Are you a Mexican, or a Mexican't?

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[–] jynxy_byrne 17 years ago

He was supposed to talk in the Irish travveller accent and failed miserably. I know I've talked to these people.

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[–] TNI-Mark 17 years ago

Ah ok fair enough. I'll take your word for it.

Are you a Mexican, or a Mexican't?

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[–] the_little_fellow 16 years ago

I'm a Dub. It seems like every time an Irish accent is done it's a Northern Irish accent. Spacey's accent was good at times, but I would like to hear him doing a Dublin accent

Is aoibhinn liom scanáinn

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[–] rawker86 16 years ago

it's always the way with accents, they might not be so obvious to most but the natives can see right through them, every time i see an "australian" character i pretty much block my ears. "g'day mate, let's go drink some fosters and have a vegemite sandwich"

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[–] doherty-elle 16 years ago

I like this film it's so bad and corny that it's good! Kevin's voice box has a good old wander about ireland; donegal, mayo, kerry and maybe a bit of dub............but just a bit! I'm irish and yes the accent's bad but unlike more serious offenders I'm fond of him for trying even if it was badly done!
'Meet the new boss...Same as the old Boss'

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[–] unapologetic_mocker 15 years ago

American actors in general should stay away from Irish accents. by - jynxy_byrne on Sat Oct 6 2007 07:31:48
....................
That's not 100% true, Johnny Depp did an ok dub accent in Chocolat. I mean it's true 99.99% of the time but there's still that 00.01% who make it work :p

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[–] jimscape 12 years ago

I know I'm a little late for the reply but here goes:

I generally agree with you except for Gary Oldman who can seem to dazzle us with anything he wants to. What an ear the man must have !

Accents need to be nurtured, studied and then, imitated just like a parrot. I'd say the actor would have to spend much time in the area, study its' people etc.

Johnny Depp learned quite a bit of Vietnamese filming "Platoon" playing Lerner. He began to steal the film from the stars which is why Oliver Stone cut all his hard worked scenes. The camera loves him and he wasn't the star; not even close.

He's done horrible English accents afterwards of course but back in '86 he was hungry. I still find him incredibly talented and enjoyed his Ed Wood quite a bit. he was an American imitating a nutter( American as well) we Yanks have so many accents we give the Brits/Irish/Welsh/Scots a run for their money in the accents dept. I'm a person heavily into language no matter which but I've a soft spot for my native English. That's English not American nor English English but English of all types (OZ and Kiwis included). I'd like to quote the late great George Carlin, the best humorist of the 20th century IMHO saying it's all in the language; the intent etc.

Just my .02C cheers

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[–] tommyuk 16 years ago

Linda's accent sounded Ok I thought

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[–] girlwiththebrokensmile84 12 years ago

Alright, I will try to be fair, I LOVE Kevin Spacey... but his accent in this movie is embarrassing. I have no acting training outside high school drama, and I can do a very convincing Irish accent, but, then again, mine might be genetic. LOL

"NO DAY BUT TODAY!"- RENT
Proud member of the SAW Army since 10-31-2004
Hoffy Bunny

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