The first time I saw this movie, I thought for sure it was Mark Wahlberg (who has serious diction issues) and not Guy Pearce. Even if he's supposed to play a character who is from New England, someone as educated as his prosecutor wouldn't speak that way. It was a miscalculation.
I really enjoyed the movie, but Pearce's accent was pretty awful. Almost like he'd studied every possible Italian/American ganster movie for inspiration. He'd have been better off sticking to a more non-descript US accent like in Memento.
shareOr in LA Confidential. I totally bought it and didnt even know he was Australian.
shareI agree, his accent at times was strange but otherwise he did a great job in the movie. He had some great lines, including when he asks what does Tommy Lee Jones' character think would happen if a Yemeni shot 83 Americans, and Pearce answers his own question by saying that "they'd have a trial, it would last 1 day and they'd cut off his head." Even though I was glad for the movie's purposes that Col Childers was acquitted, I thought that Pearce played the prosecutor role very well. I thought his courtroom arguments were well acted, etc., even if I wanted the other side (Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel Jackson) to win.
shareI actually originally got this movie from the library because I've liked Guy Pierce in La Confidential and Momento but I'd have to say this is his worst role - maybe primarily because of the accent.
I say this as a former New Yorker, accents are thick there but I don't think that they sound like that - I mean, you've got the guys that sound like Joe Peshe (sp?) but a guy who was in the military for years and went to law school wouldn't be quite so over the top unless he was back in New York drinking with his buddies or something. My New York accent only comes out when I'm angry and my Dad who lived there his entire life, has a much more subtle accent.
It could happen but not likely - something about his accent just didn't sound right - like no real New Yorker would ever sound that way - I can't quite place it - any New Yorkers who are still there able to shed any light?
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It sounded real to me - but it was just SO thick. You know who it sounded like? The Rick Schroeder character on NYPD Blue. It sounded like it was modeled on that thick accent. He did sound American rather than Australian, but the accent bothered me throughout - and I agree with Bluez that he did a fine job.
shareI'd say it wasn't realistic at all and my entire family are New Yorkers, though, I don't live there anymore.
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Honestly, my chiropractor has the same exact accent here in New York. It's more a mannerism than an accent though, I feel.
shareI only bought this film because of Guy Pearce, 'cos I'm his fan) He did a great job as usual. As for the movie itself, it seemed quite dull and trivial to me.
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