Best British Accent? - Blu-ray Forum

Chordata · 01-09-2012, 04:54 PM

It struck me while watching Sherlock Holmes that Downey Jr. did a pretty good British accent.

Can you think of an accent by a non-British performer that you thought was especially good?

If you say Kevin Costner in Robin Hood you get suspended for 3 days.

P@t_Mtl · 01-09-2012, 04:57 PM

I always believe Patrick Stewart had the best British accent

Batman1980 · 01-09-2012, 05:01 PM

Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock I guess.

leey · 01-09-2012, 05:02 PM

Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes, definitely, as stated already.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Kate Beckinsale, Rachel Weisz and Emma Watson.

+1

P@t_Mtl · 01-09-2012, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chordata

Edited the OP for people who couldn't comprehend what I was going for here.

Just can't have fun anymore!

Alright to be serious now, I have to agree Robert Downey Jr seem to be doing a good job of it.

Jezza · 01-09-2012, 05:05 PM

As an Englishman myself I think it's fair to say Dick Van Dyke does the best accent I've ever come across.

[Show spoiler]

Seriously though, I've always found it awkward to watch, especially, American actors impersonate a British character, because they almost always seem to think everyone speaks with a posh or upper-class accent.

Having said that though I actually think Johnny Depp is pretty good, even if though as Captain Jack he acts a bit tipsy.

Also, without wishing to be pedantic, there's no such thing as a British accent, as Britain is made up of four countries.

Chordata · 01-09-2012, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jezza

Also, without wishing to be pedantic, there's no such thing as a British accent, as Britain is made up of four countries.

Is it more correct to say English accent? For crying out loud, I've lived over there and I still can't get it right.

Batman1980 · 01-09-2012, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chordata

Is it more correct to say English accent? For crying out loud, I've lived over there and I still can't get it right.

I actually have to agree with the one that said Captain Jack, still surprised he didn't win the Oscar for his performance in that 2003 film.

Crimson King · 01-09-2012, 05:13 PM

James Cromwell is great at doing different accents (including British, The Queen for example)

Jezza · 01-09-2012, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chordata

Is it more correct to say English accent? For crying out loud, I've lived over there and I still can't get it right.

Techincally yes, unless you're talking about a Wales, Scotland or Nothern Ireland.

British is a nationality.

SquidPuppet · 01-09-2012, 05:19 PM

I dont know about British, but the best accent in the history of cinema was Brad Pitts German accent in Seven Years in Tibet.

[Show spoiler]

Chordata · 01-09-2012, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I dont know about British, but the best accent in the history of cinema was Brad Pitts German accent in Seven Years in Tibet.

[Show spoiler]

On that note, his whatever accent (American Southern?) in Inglourious Basterds was pretty bad, too.

Chordata · 01-09-2012, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jezza

Techincally yes, unless you're talking about a Wales, Scotland or Nothern Ireland.

British is a nationality.

How do we explain this article then?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English

Riff Magnum · 01-09-2012, 05:22 PM

Haven't see it yet, but i hear Streep does it well in the Thatcher biopic. Go figure, huh?

She's only the best ever.

SquidPuppet · 01-09-2012, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chordata

On that note, his whatever accent (American Southern?) in Inglourious Basterds was pretty bad, too.

But at least we werent supposed to take that one seriously.

Chordata · 01-09-2012, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

But at least we werent supposed to take that one seriously.

Speak for yourself, that movie represented historical fact to me.

Jezza · 01-09-2012, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chordata

How do we explain this article then?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English

Ah, that's different. That's the British English language, not accent.

I literally added the "British is a nationality" on at the end as one of the means to describe why British isn't an accent, per se. Because of course as is stated in the wiki article there are many region varitions, both in accent and written language.

But at the end of the day there's not really any such thing as a British accent, due to the UK being made up of four different countries and differences in regional accents. So, you can't define British as an accent to define the UK as a whole, but for the purposes of this thread I'd leave it, as otherwise it's getting too techincal for those outside the UK.

Sorry if that's a little confusing.

Crimson King · 01-09-2012, 05:39 PM

here's one, why did the late Linda McCartney speak with a British accent?

She was from New York City.

Riff Magnum · 01-09-2012, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyJack

here's one, why did the late Linda McCartney speak with a Britsh accent?

Umm, maybe because of prolonged "exposure" to it. Get it? Exposure.

Chordata · 01-09-2012, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyJack

here's one, why did the late Linda McCartney speak with a British accent?

She was from New York City.

Doesn't that idiot Madonna do the same thing?

01-09-2012, 04:54 PM	#1
Chordata Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Home of N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys Blu-ray collection:75 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:1	Best British Accent? It struck me while watching Sherlock Holmes that Downey Jr. did a pretty good British accent. Can you think of an accent by a non-British performer that you thought was especially good? If you say Kevin Costner in Robin Hood you get suspended for 3 days. Last edited by Chordata; 01-09-2012 at 05:01 PM. Reason: Clarification for the easily confused.

01-09-2012, 05:01 PM	#3
Batman1980 Blu-ray Jedi Member since:Feb 2009 Location:District 13 Home Theater Gallery:8 4K collection:146 Blu-ray collection:394 DVD collection:57 Blu-ray reviews:22 Trading Score:48	Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock I guess. Last edited by Batman1980; 01-09-2012 at 05:03 PM.

01-09-2012, 05:19 PM	#11
SquidPuppet Blu-ray Duke Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Club Loop Blu-ray collection:277 Blu-ray reviews:27	I dont know about British, but the best accent in the history of cinema was Brad Pitts German accent in Seven Years in Tibet. [Show spoiler] sorry

01-09-2012, 04:57 PM	#2
P@t_Mtl Blu-ray Duke Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Montreal Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:452 DVD collection:513 Trading Score:3	I always believe Patrick Stewart had the best British accent

01-09-2012, 05:05 PM	#6
Jezza Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Apr 2010 4K collection:431 Blu-ray collection:820 DVD collection:36 Trading Score:1	As an Englishman myself I think it's fair to say Dick Van Dyke does the best accent I've ever come across. [Show spoiler] Seriously though, I've always found it awkward to watch, especially, American actors impersonate a British character, because they almost always seem to think everyone speaks with a posh or upper-class accent. Having said that though I actually think Johnny Depp is pretty good, even if though as Captain Jack he acts a bit tipsy. Also, without wishing to be pedantic, there's no such thing as a British accent, as Britain is made up of four countries.

01-09-2012, 05:13 PM	#9
Crimson King Blu-ray Prince Member since:Oct 2009 Blu-ray reviews: 19 Trading Score:684	James Cromwell is great at doing different accents (including British, The Queen for example)

01-09-2012, 05:22 PM	#14
Riff Magnum Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Apr 2008 Location:The Island Blu-ray collection:149	Haven't see it yet, but i hear Streep does it well in the Thatcher biopic. Go figure, huh? She's only the best ever.

01-09-2012, 05:39 PM	#18
Crimson King Blu-ray Prince Member since:Oct 2009 Blu-ray reviews: 19 Trading Score:684	here's one, why did the late Linda McCartney speak with a British accent? She was from New York City.

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