MovieChat Forums > The Walker (2007) Discussion > Virginian Accent

Virginian Accent

posted 16 years ago by Fleshonbone
11 replies | jump to latest

Is the southern accent the worst in the world?

People kept whispering if Woody Harrelson's character was retarded

[–] kttimlin 16 years ago

I don't know who the dialogue coach was, or if they used one, but Carter's accent was not Virginian, it was from the deep south. The Virginia southern accent doesn't have that long drawl, it's more subtle. Did they purposely overdo it just to link the character to the era of southern plantations?

[–] Cyraxote 16 years ago

I think that accent can be (perhaps could be) found all over the South. It's not a question of geography so much as social class.

[–] artsunlimited2002 16 years ago

I have a feeling it's as carefully cultivated as his appearance. You can get away with saying the most outrageous things if they're voiced in a southern drawl. It's very disarming; it probably paid off by encouraging people to let down their guard and provide interesting - and profitable - confidences.

[–] kttimlin 16 years ago

That's a good idea! I never thought of that, maybe because I live in Virginia and I'm surrounded by southern accents.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] andyvanm 16 years ago

I am in Virginia and they dont sound like that, it sounds more drunk. ,the only person with a drawl I met was Jimmy Dean and his accent wasnt that strong.

[–] artsunlimited2002 16 years ago

That's cuz he isn't retarded.

[–] Mrs_Mills 16 years ago

His accent very much reminded me of Truman Capote's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wSb6IdcS30

[–] kttimlin 16 years ago

That's a good point. The character seemed to be reminiscent of Truman Capote in a way. Like Carter, Capote was gay and liked to cultivate the wives of rich important men. In fact a couple of the lines in the movie came straight from Capote's books. For example the line, "If she had as many cocks sticking out of her as she's had stuck in her, she'd look like a porcupine", is straight from Capote's "Answered Prayers".

[–] mimance 15 years ago

Either a deeper-voiced Capote or Tennessee Williams.
I live in Tidewater Virginia and no one around here sounds like Harrellson.

[–] BrockLong 13 years ago

I'm from the South and have rarely heard an accent like this. I thought Woody did a lousy job with the accent. But, you could be right that he was trying to sound like Truman Capote. Anyone else notice the Capote references in the movie? In addition the porcupine line, there is a shot of a book about Capote's Black & White Party in a box when Carter is packing up his apartment.