From Chief 'O Brien to Chief 'O Hara- Paddies in Cinema.

The Beer Baron

Something that's been on my mind to write about now- not so much about Irish actors, but more to do with the crimes against Irishness as perpetrated by Hollywood- particularly when it comes to our accents.

From Sean Connery to Tom Cruise, foreign actors have gone to great lengths to dessicrate our accents. I'd like to ask other people to compile a list of the greatest perpetrators of this- as well as perhaps making a list of any actors who you think did, indeed, done the accent right.

To my mind the only actor in Hollywood who actually managed to do it right was John Voight in John Boorman's "The General", when I 1st saw it I didn't even realise it was Voight- his accent was impeccable- a total Cork gobsheen cop played to perfection. Another, that I almost forgot was John Hurt in "The Field".

I'll give an honourable mention to Brad Pitt in both his roles as a tinker in Snatch, and a decent effort at doing a NI accent in the Devils Own.

But here, I have decided to give my
Top Ten Worst Irish Accents Ever.

10. Piece Brosnan, even though he's Irish- he never, EVER sounds like he knows how to do an Irish accent.

9 Natasha McElhone in "Ronin"

8 Sean Connery- "Darby O Gill and the Little People" & "The Untouchables". I would have put him higher, except for the fact he's Ssshaawn

7. Richard Gere (I hate that bastard) in "The Jackal".

6. Cameron Diaz in "Gangs of New York."

5. Kevin Spacey in "Ordinary Decent (piece of crap) Criminal"

4 Julia Roberts (what WERE they thinking) for absolutly ruining "Michael Collins"

3. Tom Cruise- "Far & Away"

2. John Wayne in "The Quiet Man"

Well Bee-gorrah liddle laydee!

1. And, of course, this guy.

Begosh Batman! Who do you think could be behind this dasterdly deed?!

ykt0di9url7bc3

rofl

yeah there are a lot of people that cant do it right yet the film goes on...

Casting department...where were they for the Jackal

aodh_rua

Originally posted by The Beer Baron
9 Natasha McElhone in "Ronin"

Isn't she from Donegal?

The Beer Baron

She's from England- just double checked it and imbd never lies.

tman

Originally posted by The Beer Baron
6. Cameron Diaz in "Gangs of New York."

wasn't she supposed to be a native new yorker?

The Beer Baron

wasn't she supposed to be a native new yorker?

Quiet you!

Andrew Duffy

Another appaling accent was James Cromwell's in LA Confidential.

I find it refreshing when an Irish character is in a film and no mention is made of their nationality; 28 Days Later is a good example.

Thorbar

Although Pitt's accent in snatch was class its not suppose to be an Irish accent its an English Pikey accent.

mycroft

During the filming of Ordinary decent criminal (aside if I meet one more person who's mate/friend of girlfriend/cousin, was an extra/in the pod/working out in the gym and Kevin Spacey and they got talk and they ended up going on the lash, and isn't he a great bloke all together, I will f**king scream. That guy must be the most gregarious git in the world; seems that summer he was out with half of bleeding dublin)

Anywho........One day, the director turns to one of the actors playing Spacey's henchmen (I think Stephen Dillane) and says "you seem to have a problem with Spacey" And the actor sez "yeah actually I do", so the director asks him what the issue is, and the actor goes "right my character and his, go back years right?" The director goes "yeah", the actor goes "Friends since childhood, utterly inseperable, almost like brothers?", the director goes "yeah so whats your problem?" The actor looks at him and says "Don't you think I'd be wondering where he picked up that american accent?"

And I hate to break it to you, but the Duke is an American in "The Quiet Man", he was born in Ireland but emigrated to the US as a wee lad, which would explain the accent. It's not nearly as bad as the bit in "The Greatest Story ever told" "The Greatest Story ever told" where he plays a roman centurian drawling out the line "Well truly he was the king a kings".

And lets not get started on the genius who cast him as Genghis Khan........

Mr E

Originally posted by The Beer Baron
9 Natasha McElhone in "Ronin"

I thought Jonathan Pryce's accent was worse....

- Dave.

Karl Hungus

Originally posted by TmB
I thought Jonathan Pryce's accent was worse....

- Dave.

"Yoo Shtewped Shayte!"

I roffled!

Davey Devil

I know it's not a serious film but Legend Michael J. Fox's Irish accent in Back to the Future III was awful. He was playing Marty's great grandad Seamus McFly. It's a comedy though so i'd put it down to being a joke.

Giblet

They mention Brad Pitt is supposed to be Irish loads of times in Snatch, don't know where you got that Idea from.

Andrew Duffy

There's a line in Snatch where Turkish says about the accent - "It's not Irish, it's not English, it's just... Pikey", or something to that effect.

SheroN

Donald suterland's accent in the eagle has landed.....hahaha..

"god bless all here" etc etc

Exit

IMO, Spacey's is the #1 most criminal Irish accent I've ever heard.

mike65

Originally posted by The Beer Baron
From Sean Connery to Tom Cruise, foreign actors have gone to great lengths to dessicrate our accents. I'd like to ask other people to compile a list of the greatest perpetrators of this- as well as perhaps making a list of any actors who you think did, indeed, done the accent right.

To be fair Sean Connery uses his own accent for every role which includes Spanish nobelmen and Greek mythological heros! Tom Cruise was still learning when Far and Way was made. Albert Finney has done a few Orish accents but gets away with it.

Mike.

Dr. Loon

Yeah Connery's exempt from impersonating any accent. He doesn't have to.

as for bad accents, Pierce Brosnans attempt at a Dublin accent in Evelyn is truly the worst ever. His pronunciation of daughter is woeful.

Jilm

Albert Finney's & Gabriel Bryne's irish accents are all over the show in Miller's Crossing ...otherwise a great flick