MovieChat Forums > Stay (2005) Discussion > Dang! Their perfect accents !

Dang! Their perfect accents !

posted 16 years ago by VelvetBabe
8 replies | jump to latest

Just wanted to say, as a person into accents my whole life, that between the Scottish Ewan McGregor, and the Australian/British Naomi Watts, that their American accents in this film were absolutely, positively flawless and believable. Great job.

I in fact just found out tonite that Naomi lived in Britain until she was 14, then emigrated to Australia. Had no idea- had just assumed because of the she was American because of her speaking voice in Stay.

Ewan's done straightahead American accents plenty of times before (Velvet Goldmine, Deception, The Island), plus exaggerated southern US accents (Big Fish, Down With Love), and done them really really well, and I think this film has sealed it - he's perfected it. Dang.

[–] VelvetBabe 16 years ago

Forgot to mention that Bob Hoskins is also a Brit and also does a flawless American accent in this film. Kudos to them all.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] VelvetBabe 16 years ago

Wow, I totally disagree. I have watched this film several times now, poured over it actually, and I specifically listened for slip ups on accents of any of the 3 non-Americans, because I'm kind of into accents, and I have to say, I heard not one- zero. Bronx is a very very strong, exaggerated accent- I certainly heard nothing of the sort in Ewan's speech. Seriously, where did you hear anything close to a Bronx accent out of him? I know some people said his American accent in 'Deception' slipped into a NY accent at times, but it was very subtle, and also, that character was supposed to have grown up in NY, so that would have been perfect.

[–] cressyda 16 years ago

I didn't catch the Bronx accent from Ewan, but compared to Naomi, his American accent was decidedly off to me. Actually, his accent most reminded me of a few people I know who grew up in parts of the US that have pretty thick Southern accents and who learned how to drop the accent when they went to pricey East Coast colleges. It's not not an American accent...but it lacks a 'regional authenticity'. Naomi's accent was what you'd expect to hear as the American voice of any news broadcast in the country. Ewan's wasn't like trying to hear Colin Farrel speak with an American accent - but it didn't sound quite right to me.

[–] skiop 15 years ago

I agree. I don't think McGregor is good at American accents at all.

[–] LittleBella 15 years ago

I agree completely about Naomi Watts. I saw her in The Ring and was completely unaware that she wasn't American. I knew it when I watched Stay, though, and I still couldn't tell at all. I am also one who loves to listen to different accents, as the OP does, particularly Scottish, Irish, English, Australian, and New Zealand, and she had me totally fooled.

I think it was slightly easier to hear the accent in Ewan's voice, however. I knew he was Scottish at the time I saw Stay, and I listened for his accent. His "r's" were different an a way that I can't really explain. I don't know, I heard it a little. It was certainly passable, but I did hear a few slip-ups. I've never heard him doing any other American accents, though, and I would be curious to listen to those critically as well. It's just something I love to do. Thank you for the suggestions, I'll try to watch those in the near future.

As for Bob Hoskins, perfect. I actually forgot he wasn't American, despite having known since childhood (I have loved the movie Hook for as long as I can remember).

Just curious, what is your favorite accent to listen to? Mine is probably either Scottish or New Zealand (aka Kiwi).

I am Jack's broken heart.

[–] Judger 15 years ago

I'm sorry, McGregor's accent was not convincing.
Watts yes, McGregor no.

I was born in the house my father built

[–] adamseven7 15 years ago

hey, OP, you would really like ray winstones accent in the departed, especially if you think ewans was flawless in stay!

_________
H is pronounced Aitch NOT Haitch !