There are good and unhealthy accents — after which there’s Keanu Reeves in Dracula.

Actors nailing accents is commonly essential for a task the place they’re portraying somebody actual or from part of the world recognized for a particular accent.


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We have all performed round with an accent as a goof however have by no means possibly realized simply how tough it’s to make it plausible. I am no skilled on accents, however fortunately the web has already offered me with somebody who’s.

All through this put up, I am going to consult with Erik Singer, a dialect coach who’s been within the enterprise for over 15 years and is part of a long-running phase referred to as Technique Critique with WIRED breaking down all varieties of accents. I’ll defer to his movies for a few of these takes, although the unhealthy accents are fast to catch since a few of these actors did not even attempt.

Here is my checklist of 10 wonderful AND dreadful accents from actors. Honest warning, I don’t embody some offensive portrayals of ethnic folks from early cinema as it’s already too clear how unhealthy these accents and impersonations have been.

Beginning out with the perfect…

1.

Jamie Foxx — Ray


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This uncanny efficiency by Jamie Foxx not solely awarded him an Oscar for Finest Main Actor, but additionally ascended his profession into the stratosphere as his assortment of abilities as a singer, actor, and impressionist have been all on show. The way in which he captured Ray Charles’ southern accent and distinct rasp in his voice elevated his total efficiency. His abilities as an impressionist go additional than simply this movie, take a look at his newest impression of Dave Chappelle and see if it would not drop your jaw to the ground. 

2.

Philip Seymour Hoffman — Capote


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One other nice efficiency of a real-life particular person by the late nice actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, that equally to Mr. Foxx, earned him an Academy Award as properly. He is ready to seize Truman’s distinctive voice and mannerisms and by no means breaks from it for a second within the movie, which in accordance with most dialect coaches is a really tough process, particularly in dramatic scenes. 

3.

Heath Ledger — Brokeback Mountain


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Although one among Heath Ledger’s biggest performances is as The Joker within the Darkish Knight, Ledger’s portrayal of a Wyoming cowboy in Brokeback Mountain confirmed simply how good he’s at nailing a really explicit accent. Sure, he is completed American accents earlier than, however this one appears to take the cake. 

4.

Matthew Rhys — The Individuals


twentieth Tv

There’s often no debate that British and Australian actors have a rare potential to carry out American accents. Matthew Rhys’ efficiency as a Russian spy pretending to be American reveals how proficient this Welsh-born actor is. It’s identified by dialect coach Erik Singer in his critique of Rhys’ efficiency that even with phrases that British actors often battle with, Matt lands completely. There isn’t any surprise why he was capable of win an Emmy for Excellent Lead Actor in a Drama Sequence. 

5.

Connor Trinneer — American Made


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There have been many impressions of the previous President however none higher than Connor Trinneer in American Made. The inflection of his phrases as he speaks to Barry about being a pilot within the Air Nationwide Guard reveals how a lot he perfected George W. Bush’s Texan accent. Although not a family identify like among the others on this checklist, it must be famous how good of a job Trinneer did within the brief scene he had with Cruise. 

6.

Angelina Jolie — Maleficent


Disney

Many praised Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of the enduring Disney villain, and it is one of many higher British accents completed by an American actor. We see Jolie change into increasingly comfy with the accent through the years since her position in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. This movie reveals her progress and talent as an actor. 

7.

Daniel Day-Lewis — In The Title of the Father


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No checklist of nice accents could be full with out the Oscar-winning actor, Daniel Day-Lewis. He is completed a number of nice accents from Gangs of New York, There Will Be Blood, Lincoln, and many others., however Daniel nailed his Irish accent for Within the Title of the Father. His Belfast accent is past spectacular however is not stunning, contemplating his methodology appearing has been why he is gained so many rattling awards and at all times offers a riveting efficiency. 

8.

Daniel Kaluuya — Get Out


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2017’s Get Out gave us our first glimpse of Jordan Peele as a director and launched the US to Daniel Kaluuya as a number one man and phenomenal actor. His Brooklyn accent is refined to the purpose that many did not know he was British, much like how Idris Elba refined his Baltimore accent in The Wire. Kaluuya would additionally later depict Chicago activist, Fred Hampton, for Judas and the Black Messiah, during which he obtained crucial popularity of not solely his efficiency however the particular cadence and accent he had realized for the position. 

9.

Andrew Lincoln — The Strolling Lifeless


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“Coral” has been a meme for a very long time relating to Andrew Lincoln’s character saying his son’s identify “Carl,” however his precise efficiency because the Georgia Sheriff who finds himself in a Zombie-apocalypse has been stable. Say what you’ll in regards to the present, however I discovered his accent was both applauded by followers or loathed by haters, I at all times thought it was good, and it has been good to see an expert dialect coach give him his flowers. 

10.

Benedict Cumberbatch — Black Mass


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Many individuals bear in mind Johnny Depp’s transformation into the notorious gangster Whitey Bulger. Nonetheless, Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Whitey’s youthful brother and former politician, Billy Bulger, highlighted his accent acumen as he captures the well-known Boston accent and Billy’s cadence and tonality completely. It is one more instance of a British actor with the ability to painting a particular accent even American actors battle with. 

Now put together your self for the unhealthy…

11.

Tom Cruise — Far and Away


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Not all people might be Daniel Day-Lewis and carry out an ideal Irish accent, although I’ll give him an A+ for effort. Cruise simply could not keep constant along with his accent and sounded extra just like the leprechaun from the “Fortunate Charms” commercials when he’d converse. 

12.

Christopher Lambert — Highlander


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Since Connery is already on this checklist for an additional movie, I needed to deal with the lead actor, Mr. Christopher Lambert, who simply by no means landed the Scottish accent his character was alleged to have. You’ll have thought he might’ve realized one thing from Mr. Connery when it got here to his accent, however sadly, it by no means occurs onscreen. 

13.

Nicholas Cage — Con Air


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Considered one of my favourite ’90s motion movies, and like many motion movies of these instances, may not maintain up the perfect in terms of appearing, however the premise continues to be entertaining for me. Listening to Nicolas Cage’s accent makes me chuckle, Erik Singer breaks down the specifics of why his accent is not plausible, however for me, it simply sounds just like the stereotypical southern drawl folks use when attempting to mock somebody from the South. 

14.

Kevin Costner — Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves


Warner Bros.

My favourite Robin Hood movie will at all times be Robin Hood: Males in Tights. It’s fantastically hilarious, however it additionally took a wonderful potshot on the movie that had come earlier than it, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with regard to Costner’s lack of an accent. The general forged wasn’t actually nailing the English accent both, although Costner’s efficiency being the lead was absolutely the worst. It is rumored that director Kevin Reynolds wasn’t a fan of Costner’s English accent and instructed him to drop it, however you may nonetheless hear a hybrid mixture of Costner’s American accent and a poor English accent blended in a few of his scenes. 

15.

John Malkovich—- Rounders


Miramax Movies

It appears Irish and Russian accents appear to be the toughest of all to carry out and are available off lifelike. John’s efficiency right here appears to be of somebody performing extra for comedy than realism. The road, “He beat me straight up, pay this man his cash.” is simply laughable although the movie total is nice to look at. 

16.

Sean Connery — The Hunt for Pink October


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One other try by a high-caliber actor who simply could not get it proper. Sadly for Connery, who was alleged to be enjoying a Russian captain, he off as extra Scottish than the rest. It was obvious along with his position in Highlander that accents may not be in his talent set but he nonetheless made an try on this movie. Although the film continues to be good, I can not assist however cringe at any time when Connery is delivering his traces. 

17.

Keanu Reeves — Bram Stoker’s Dracula


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I’m an enormous fan of Keanu and his previous films, however his accent work has by no means been good. Devils Advocate gave us one of many worst performances of a southern Florida accent however Bram Stoker’s Dracula gave us one of many worst British accents in cinema thus far. I am positive you can provide me another examples that have been shut however this one actually takes the cake. It is simply overexaggerated and comes off virtually as parody, which is painful to look at.  

18.

Jon Voight — Anaconda


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Apparently, Jon Voight confused Paraguay with Cuba as a result of it looks as if he is making an attempt a extremely unhealthy Cuban accent on this movie and it comes off cringy as hell. He may not have had correct time to arrange and possibly this was the perfect try on the accent, however my goodness it is like nails to a chalkboard to listen to. 

19.

Gerard Butler — P.S. I Love You


Warner Bros.

Now I have to say, Gerard Butler has apologized to the folks of Eire after being acknowledged for having one of many worst Irish accents in a movie alongside Tom Cruise and Sean Connery. Sadly for Butler, his Scottish accent is so thick that it tends to come back out in virtually each movie he is ever been in and so it is onerous to consider he is something apart from a Scot, however with that being mentioned he nonetheless manages to ship some fan-favorite films, the place, no matter his accent, he nonetheless entertains. 

20.

James Van Der Beek — Varsity Blues


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Coming off his success from Dawson’s Creek, James Van Der Beek led this movie alongside the late Paul Walker and Scott Caan. The one factor was, it appeared nobody considered what a Texan accent may sound like. Although everybody’s was terrible, James appears simply to make my ears damage essentially the most contemplating he has essentially the most traces within the movie. It is one more efficiency of an accent that looks as if one thing from a comedy sketch. 

What do you consider this checklist? Do you will have some nice or unhealthy accents from an actor that stick out to your thoughts? Tell us within the feedback under.

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