I want to know what people (especially English people) think of their English accents: Naomi, Ed, and Liev.
I'm American, so perhaps I'm not a good authority on this, but I thought Naomi's was very very good, spot on, Liev's was pretty impeccable, and Edward's wasn't so good, but not horrible either.
What do you think?
I think the accents were good enough not to be distracting. They worked for me.
"Do you know me?"
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I thought they were perfectly adequate. They were convincing enough not to detract from the virtually flawless acting, anyway.
shareI thought they were okay, but like the OP, I'm not British.
Btw, Naomi Watts grew up in England but moved to Australia when she was 14.. does she have an Aussie or English accent?
People always pay me out because I moved to Australia when I was 7 and I have an Aussie accent.
All three had very good, believable accents. I was surprised at how authentic they sounded, coz I knew none of them was English.
shareHaving just defended Robert Downey Jrs accent in Sherlock Holmes (and listed some American actors who I thought did excellent work with British acccents), I watched this film from part way (I was recording it as well) last night on TV and had to rerun from the beginning to make sure they were meant to be English.
I really rate Edward Norton as an actor, and thought he was excellent in this role except for the accent being way off. It was almost there and could have been that of someone English but who had lived in America for a long time. The inflections were all wrong. Same for Lief - again, huge admiration for his work, but I was puzzled as to why the Vice Consul was American. Hmm.
Maybe it was hearing Toby Jones (Waddington), the real thing, that provided the contrast.
Naomi Watts - spot on. Completely right for the time and her class.
Beautiful film and terribly sad.
I enjoyed the film but the accents were its weakest part. Naomi Watts was fine, as you would expect. Liev Schreiber made a good effort - though not quite convincing, he didn't sound like he taking the mickey, which is always the biggest risk.
Throughout the film, I was trying to work out what was wrong with Edward Norton's accent. I think it comes down to a lack of emphasis or "colour" in his speech. The sounds may have been right but it was all too light and prissy, especially when heard alongside Toby Jones.
I think the days when we Brits could laugh at Americans' attempts at British accents are more or less over. Most attempts, in the past decade at least, have been pretty laudable. Liev had evidently put the work in, and Ed Norton went beyond that... not only did he get the voice, he got the whole mentality right. V. Impressive! Naomi's antipodean accent ocassionaly came through, but not enough to be distracting.
Definitely would like to see Ed Norton playing more British roles... paticularly in costume Dramas. How about Guy Gibson in the hoped-for Peter Jackson re-make of The Dambusters.
I am English and I felt that Edward Norton did a very believable English accent - it especially seemed to fit the time period - very clipped and clear.
He slipped slightly when he said "its more complicated than that" when he didn't pronounce every letter (ie complikayded) but overall brilliant accent.
Naomi Watts only very occasionally betrayed her aussie accent - usually when she was getting upset.
Liev Schrieber did a very good job too. Well done to all of them
I agree with Simon. Norton's accent was utter perfection! Watts' was a bit Aussie and a bit Yank, but not too bad, her acting compensated.
shareAs an Englishman, I'd say the accents were pretty much flawless. We all knew Watts and Norton could act, but I was especially surprised by Liev Schrieber - very impressive.
shareUhm, isn't Watts British?? So her accent is her own, I'm guessing; what's there to comment on?
"Contempt loves the silence, it thrives in the dark" -Merchant
Uhm, isn't Watts British?? So her accent is her own, I'm guessing; what's there to comment on?