FYI - CONTROL Update - Ian Curtis has been cast

Sam Riley has been cast as lead singer Ian Curtis and Alexandra Maria Lara as his lover Annik on music video director Anton Corbijn’s Control, his fact-based debut feature on UK post-punk band Joy Division.

It is a first big role for newcomer Riley – the troubled Curtis was in his early 20s when he committed suicide in 1980 – whereas Lara played Hitler’s secretary in Downfall and has just finished work on Francis Ford Coppola’s Youth By Youth alongside Bruno Ganz and Tim Roth.

It was already known that Samantha Morton would play Deborah Curtis, who wrote the book on which Matt Greenhalgh’s script is based. Curtis will also get a co-producer credit, as will former Joy Division manager and Factory Records founder Tony Wilson, the subject of the biopic 24 Hour Party People. The producers are Orian Williams and Todd Eckert from Claraflora.

The Control team is still closing finance but hopes to being shooting in mid-2006 in Manchester, Macclesfield and other areas of England.

The film’s title was inspired by the classic Joy Division song She’s Lost Control. New Order, the band that succeeded Joy Division, will be recording new tracks for the film and the soundtrack album will feature a number of re-recorded Joy Division songs.

Corbijn has worked on U2, Depeche Mode, Nirvana and Metallica videos and is also known for his photographs of such musicians as the late Miles Davis, R.E.M., David Bowie and Elvis Costello.

Is that Sam Riley as in the 10,000 Things singer?

Do we have any photo's of him? I hope he does a good job, he's got big boots to fill.

its this fella....i think

...

Missy Jem wrote: ...

eh less of the three fuckin dots

fair play to him, IC is a good part to land.

I wanna be an extra in this film. To the Casting Agent: Let me be in it!!! I live in Manc and everything, and i can wag work for a bit!

Missy Jem wrote: I wanna be an extra in this film. To the Casting Agent: Let me be in it!!! I live in Manc and everything, and i can wag work for a bit!

Missy! You got mail!

If he IS American, he'd better damn well perfect that accent or it will ruin it for me.

Missy Jem wrote: If he IS American, he'd better damn well perfect that accent or it will ruin it for me.

If they're putting yanks in it....there must be big yanks money behind it. Given the American talent for sticking random titles with random plots...I rather suspect we'll be seeing a movie about Ian Curtis the anti terrorist agent ( who plays in a folk band called "fun section")...who falls in love with wassername while he's checking out her invlovement in a plot to take over the world hatched by $ARAB_SCUMBAG

We know it's gonna be given the old Septic treatment whatever. It'll probably be set in the shite end of Noo Yoik or something like that, and he'll probably blow his brains out rather than hanging himself!

Well, if the photo above is accurate, I think he may be able to pull it off--and hopefully he will get a dialogue coach capable of teaching him the proper accent (although, being American, I will defer to those who know on how accurate the accent is). Often it seems that actors from the UK, Australia and NZ manage to pull off American accents quite well, but when American actors try to go the other direction, the results are somewhat lacking. (the worst EVER being Julia Roberts in "Mary Reilly")

As for the influences of American finances, you will be able to identify American influence gone awry if at any point (1) Deborah Curtis and Annik have a western-style shootout in the streets of Macclesfield, or (2) Peter Hook is revealed to be a CIA operative who is infiltrating the Manchester punk scene to uncover a terrorist plot.

I actually think, however, that given the people putting it together, the film may turn out alright.

Matt

Regardless of wether he is american or not (even though i cannot understand why the other guy from 24hr didn't get a look in) i just hope they stay faithful to the book

does anyone know who is to play the others barney , hooky and steve ? or wilson , grettoen or erasmus even ?

oops u know i meant gretton , sorry me just a fick northener

An American? They honestly couldn't find ONE or TWO Brit actor kids in a back alley who are just looking for a break to play Ian?

Well, in any event, I'd kind of hope he at least likes the music. Might be hard to play someone whose music you didn't care for.

Dead Film Walking

;)

According to IMDB he was also in the Granada drama "Tough Love"

Did anyone see it?

I actually think, however, that given the people putting it together, the film may turn out alright.

Right.

I mean, if Ian Curtis' own wife and Tony Wilson, Anton Corbijn couldn't get this film made proper I can't imagine who could. I trust their decisions in making this film.

And I can't friggin' wait to see it!

I love Joy Division but I don't think I'd wanna watch something about Ian's life. It makes me sad, even though he died over 2 and a half decades ago.

who gives a f*ck if he's an american? how many british actors play americans with excellent accents? loads. (although there are some who can't get it right) and the aussie, anthony lapaglia, does a perfect new york accent on without a trace. who's to say this guy can't do a manc accent? if he were irish or scottish would you be as critical? i doubt it.

by the way: sean harris, who played ian curtis in 24HPP, is not a manc and is a dual US/british citizen.

I think you're overreacting. Its understandable that people would prefer an Englishman to play Ian's role. I don't think there's any anti-American sentiment in THIS thread. ;)

Besides its safe to say that whoever was involved in the casting made sure this fella could pull off the Manc accent.

they could av found and cast a UK willing talent in a heart beat count. wonder why $it didn't happen. the MacBeth and Seagull credits are good starts.

will it be all, or mostly, black and white with scant dialogue? can only hope that it isn't air brushed too heavily. and can't wait really.

Wasim wrote: I think you're overreacting. Its understandable that people would prefer an Englishman to play Ian's role. I don't think there's any anti-American sentiment in THIS thread. ;)

Besides its safe to say that whoever was involved in the casting made sure this fella could pull off the Manc accent.

i think it's most important to find the best person to play ian curtis, regardless of his nationality. it happens all the time--what makes this any different?

AgentWood wrote: who gives a f*ck if he's an american? how many british actors play americans with excellent accents? loads. (although there are some who can't get it right) and the aussie, anthony lapaglia, does a perfect new york accent on without a trace. who's to say this guy can't do a manc accent? if he were irish or scottish would you be as critical? i doubt it.

by the way: sean harris, who played ian curtis in 24HPP, is not a manc and is a dual US/british citizen.

good point. just to prove that americans can play a convincing brit one needs to look no further than gweneth paltrow or renée zellweger .

I'm fairly certain this person is English.

His first two credits as an actor (SAINT-EX in 1996 in what amounts to a glorified extra role, and "Tough Love" in 2000) are both English productions so I think it's fairly safe to say that he's either an English or Irish actor.

As I believe someone else mentioned he may be a singer as well.

http://www.10000things.org.uk/10000www.htm

He's described in one of the articles here as Ian Curtis with a quiff.

Ronald Kirsch wrote:

AgentWood wrote: who gives a f*ck if he's an american? how many british actors play americans with excellent accents? loads. (although there are some who can't get it right) and the aussie, anthony lapaglia, does a perfect new york accent on without a trace. who's to say this guy can't do a manc accent? if he were irish or scottish would you be as critical? i doubt it.

by the way: sean harris, who played ian curtis in 24HPP, is not a manc and is a dual US/british citizen.

good point. just to prove that americans can play a convincing brit one needs to look no further than gweneth paltrow or renée zellweger .

I also agree that there SHOULD be no reason why an American couldn't pull off the accent, but I am not sure that Mrs. Coldplay or Bridget Jones are the best examples of that--I mean, sure, they convinced me, but did it convince those whose accent they were imitating? That said, I understand the hesitance of those posting here to accept an American in the role of Ian Curtis. If a Manc were hired to play Jim Morrison, Doors fanatics would be equally hesitant.

As I said before, though, with Deborah Curtis and others who knew Ian personally involved, I am willing to reserve judgment until I see the actual performance.

Kerry Harris wrote:

His first two credits as an actor (SAINT-EX in 1996 in what amounts to a glorified extra role, and "Tough Love" in 2000) are both English productions so I think it's fairly safe to say that he's either an English or Irish actor.

He's described in one of the articles here as Ian Curtis with a quiff.

Saint-Ex-/Jungle Partygoer 1996 and Virgin/Michael-2003. and Sam Morton who just did the Libertine with Johnny Depp.

Matt wrote:

Ronald Kirsch wrote:

AgentWood wrote: who gives a f*ck if he's an american? how many british actors play americans with excellent accents? loads. (although there are some who can't get it right) and the aussie, anthony lapaglia, does a perfect new york accent on without a trace. who's to say this guy can't do a manc accent? if he were irish or scottish would you be as critical? i doubt it.

by the way: sean harris, who played ian curtis in 24HPP, is not a manc and is a dual US/british citizen.

good point. just to prove that americans can play a convincing brit one needs to look no further than gweneth paltrow or renée zellweger .

I also agree that there SHOULD be no reason why an American couldn't pull off the accent, but I am not sure that Mrs. Coldplay or Bridget Jones are the best examples of that--I mean, sure, they convinced me, but did it convince those whose accent they were imitating? That said, I understand the hesitance of those posting here to accept an American in the role of Ian Curtis. If a Manc were hired to play Jim Morrison, Doors fanatics would be equally hesitant.

As I said before, though, with Deborah Curtis and others who knew Ian personally involved, I am willing to reserve judgment until I see the actual performance.

i can do a decent northern accent. back in those days when i first got into the order me and my best mate pretended to be mancs. however, i may be to old to play a 20 year old. a 25 year old no probs.

The film’s title was inspired by the classic Joy Division song She’s Lost Control. New Order, the band that succeeded Joy Division, will be recording new tracks for the film and the soundtrack album will feature a number of re-recorded Joy Division songs.

A stab in the dark, but a somewhat educated guess given the title of the film.. but I'm thinking one of the re-recorded songs could be She's Lost Control? Could be sweet.

AgentWood wrote:

Wasim wrote: I think you're overreacting. Its understandable that people would prefer an Englishman to play Ian's role. I don't think there's any anti-American sentiment in THIS thread. ;)

Besides its safe to say that whoever was involved in the casting made sure this fella could pull off the Manc accent.

i think it's most important to find the best person to play ian curtis, regardless of his nationality. it happens all the time--what makes this any different?

Well obviously the best person should be chosen. But I think its natural to be sceptical when a foreigner is picked to play Ian, particularly as Joy Division were a band that really was born out of a particular time and place. He should definately be given a chance, and as has been said with the people behind this project I can't see Ian's legacy being trampled on.

Wasim wrote:

AgentWood wrote:

Wasim wrote: I think you're overreacting. Its understandable that people would prefer an Englishman to play Ian's role. I don't think there's any anti-American sentiment in THIS thread. ;)

Besides its safe to say that whoever was involved in the casting made sure this fella could pull off the Manc accent.

i think it's most important to find the best person to play ian curtis, regardless of his nationality. it happens all the time--what makes this any different?

Well obviously the best person should be chosen. But I think its natural to be sceptical when a foreigner is picked to play Ian, particularly as Joy Division were a band that really was born out of a particular time and place. He should definately be given a chance, and as has been said with the people behind this project I can't see Ian's legacy being trampled on.

i dare say that the pruducers of this film know what they are doing and how important the Joy Division legacy is (I hope, isn't debbie curtis still involved as well.)

AgentWood wrote: who gives a f*ck if he's an american? how many british actors play americans with excellent accents? loads. (although there are some who can't get it right) and the aussie, anthony lapaglia, does a perfect new york accent on without a trace. who's to say this guy can't do a manc accent? if he were irish or scottish would you be as critical? i doubt it.

by the way: sean harris, who played ian curtis in 24HPP, is not a manc and is a dual US/british citizen.

I don't know that you can equate English and Australian actors doing US accents with US actors doing UK/AU accents, unfortunately. There have been (and still are, look no further than Lost for a dire example) so many cases of American actors struggling to do international English accents over the years. Yet most actors are able to nail the US accent, some even the regional nuances as per LaPaglia.

The sad fact is that almost everyone in the English-speaking world can pull off a reasonable American accent. You needn't even be an actor! Such has been the American cultural saturation over the years. Don't think it works both ways, however. Ask the "average American" to do an English accent and often you'll end up with a bit of Dick Van Dyke from Mary Poppins, or ask them to do an Aussie accent and you'll get a sort of South African / Cockney hybrid. Well this is my experience anyway.

Having said that, I'm not discriminating against Sam if he turns out to be an American. Good luck to him. Just hope he's got the skills to pay the bills.

:\pimp3:

Samantha Morton has got some serious bangers on her.

:bag:

By the way: I just saw Walk The Line starring Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash, and I thought: Wow, that guy could also be fantastic if he played Morrissey! They share that "not-such-a-nice-person" expression on their faces but at the same time they do look very sensitive, full of hidden emotions.

got my hand on an exclusivity for anyone interested...cannot mention my website but you should figure out my screen name

AgentWood wrote: who gives a f*ck if he's an american? how many british actors play americans with excellent accents? loads. (although there are some who can't get it right) and the aussie, anthony lapaglia, does a perfect new york accent on without a trace. who's to say this guy can't do a manc accent? if he were irish or scottish would you be as critical? i doubt it.

by the way: sean harris, who played ian curtis in 24HPP, is not a manc and is a dual US/british citizen.

I do agree with you, I'm English, but still, it doesn't bother me. I'm not a manc, but I live near there. I'm from Hull, anyone know where that is?

Nicky wrote:

I do agree with you, I'm English, but still, it doesn't bother me. I'm not a manc, but I live near there. I'm from Hull, anyone know where that is?

Of course, it's just over the Quebec border from Ottawa.

Actually, I am more concerned that the bloke can do the stage presence and the dancing.

Mind you we Irish have been much abused by Hollywood accent wise (Think Tom Cruise in Home And Away). Then there was that film with Sinead O'Connor in it where they gave out language cards for the audience in America so that they could understand it. They may have done this with The Commitments too if I remember correctly.

Still its disappointing that yerman Cillian Murphy didn't get the job. Would have been great to hear Curtis in a Cork accent.

Dis is de wey, step inside la.

Jonathan. Cork.

[orange]depthcharge[/orange] wrote:

AgentWood wrote: who gives a f*ck if he's an american? how many british actors play americans with excellent accents? loads. (although there are some who can't get it right) and the aussie, anthony lapaglia, does a perfect new york accent on without a trace. who's to say this guy can't do a manc accent? if he were irish or scottish would you be as critical? i doubt it.

by the way: sean harris, who played ian curtis in 24HPP, is not a manc and is a dual US/british citizen.

I don't know that you can equate English and Australian actors doing US accents with US actors doing UK/AU accents, unfortunately. There have been (and still are, look no further than Lost for a dire example) so many cases of American actors struggling to do international English accents over the years.

what american actor on lost is pretending to be english? the only englishman i can think of on the show is charlie, and he's played by dominic monaghan--from stockport.

I wonder whether Martin Hannett will be in the film and who will play him if he is. I doubt it though, sseing as he's not mentioned all that much in the book.

For all those worried about the part of Ian Curtis going to an American you can sleep well tonight.

It seems that it is Sam Riley singer of the Leeds band 10,000 Things who got the part.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/368688/thread/1135192281/last-1139592116/SAM+to+Play+ian+curtis

...is a link from the band's website where fans are already starting to discuss the casting.

[orange]depthcharge[/orange] wrote: The sad fact is that almost everyone in the English-speaking world can pull off a reasonable American accent. You needn't even be an actor!

oh, god no. when my british, australian, kiwi and south african friends try american accents it always ends in disaster (and many laughs all around)!

Well , i hope he does a better job than Sean Harris did in 24HPP.I'm probably on my own here but i thought he was shit as Ian.

Bonzette wrote:

Missy Jem wrote: I wanna be an extra in this film. To the Casting Agent: Let me be in it!!! I live in Manc and everything, and i can wag work for a bit!

Missy! You got mail!

I wanna be in it too!! And I'm down the road from town.

According to JDC This picture was taken by Anton Corbijn.

This must be the look for the film.

Johnny wrote: Well , i hope he does a better job than Sean Harris did in 24HPP.I'm probably on my own here but i thought he was shit as Ian.

sean harris may not look like ian, but i thought his movements were spot on.

God, I hope this newcomer Riley pulls it off, otherwise I will not be happy!

What's up with the American Bashing? As if America didn't contribute to some of the best music around. We gave the world Michael Jackson and the Village People. Well, perhaps your right, proceed with the bashing. I didn't ask to be born here.

AgentWood wrote:

[orange]depthcharge[/orange] wrote: The sad fact is that almost everyone in the English-speaking world can pull off a reasonable American accent. You needn't even be an actor!

oh, god no. when my british, australian, kiwi and south african friends try american accents it always ends in disaster (and many laughs all around)!

Well not many of you knew Charlise Theron was from the RSA till she told you so!

this is he!

AgentWood wrote:

Johnny wrote: Well , i hope he does a better job than Sean Harris did in 24HPP.I'm probably on my own here but i thought he was shit as Ian.

sean harris may not look like ian, but i thought his movements were spot on.

anybody could do an Ian dance if they put some effort into it.I've tried it myself sometimes

When i went to see my mates band ,Painsville ,in a pub gig last December they invited me to sing on their cover of Transmission.I was tempted but just didn't have the bottle:\ohwell:

JonnyMac wrote:

Nicky wrote:

I do agree with you, I'm English, but still, it doesn't bother me. I'm not a manc, but I live near there. I'm from Hull, anyone know where that is?

Of course, it's just over the Quebec border from Ottawa.

Actually, I am more concerned that the bloke can do the stage presence and the dancing.

Mind you we Irish have been much abused by Hollywood accent wise (Think Tom Cruise in Home And Away). Then there was that film with Sinead O'Connor in it where they gave out language cards for the audience in America so that they could understand it. They may have done this with The Commitments too if I remember correctly.

Still its disappointing that yerman Cillian Murphy didn't get the job. Would have been great to hear Curtis in a Cork accent.

Dis is de wey, step inside la.

Jonathan. Cork.

Ha! Ha! Ha! I'm English, I wasn't aware of there being a Hull in Canada...but, last time I checked...I'm a 100% Brit. English Hull.

You've heard the one about the Brandsholme bird and the ice cream cornet?

AgentWood wrote:

[orange]depthcharge[/orange] wrote: I don't know that you can equate English and Australian actors doing US accents with US actors doing UK/AU accents, unfortunately. There have been (and still are, look no further than Lost for a dire example) so many cases of American actors struggling to do international English accents over the years.

what american actor on lost is pretending to be english? the only englishman i can think of on the show is charlie, and he's played by dominic monaghan--from stockport.

Aussies, not English. Using the term "English" a bit more broadly.

Plenty of bit parts in Series One. A lot of the background stories were supposed to be located in Aus but clearly weren't. Several actors made a complete hash of the accent. Couldn't work out why they wouldn't fly a few Aussie actors out to Hawaii or wherever it was being filmed.

:\pimp3:

AgentWood wrote:

[orange]depthcharge[/orange] wrote: The sad fact is that almost everyone in the English-speaking world can pull off a reasonable American accent. You needn't even be an actor!

oh, god no. when my british, australian, kiwi and south african friends try american accents it always ends in disaster (and many laughs all around)!

They sound a bit hopeless!

I suspect they'd do a better job than most Americans do of English, Aussie, et al, accents.

The US accent is so pervasive. Look at how many people move to the States and pick up the accent in no time, or at least start waxing in that nasty "Mid-Atlantic" hybrid. I can't think of any Americans I know here who sound like a local.

:\pimp3:

[orange]depthcharge[/orange] wrote:

AgentWood wrote:

[orange]depthcharge[/orange] wrote: The sad fact is that almost everyone in the English-speaking world can pull off a reasonable American accent. You needn't even be an actor!

oh, god no. when my british, australian, kiwi and south african friends try american accents it always ends in disaster (and many laughs all around)!

They sound a bit hopeless!

I suspect they'd do a better job than most Americans do of English, Aussie, et al, accents.

The US accent is so pervasive. Look at how many people move to the States and pick up the accent in no time, or at least start waxing in that nasty "Mid-Atlantic" hybrid. I can't think of any Americans I know here who sound like a local.

:\pimp3:

i don't know any brits, aussies, etc. who live here who have american accents! i can still pinpoint the county they come from (or london borough) if they're british, or if they're aussie, kiwi, or from south africa--even if they've lived here for 25 years. when i lived in london, near the end of my 2nd year i had people who didn't believe that i was american; they thought i was from london. i didn't realize i was speaking any different, i just picked it up, i guess. not sure if i can do it anymore, though.

as for charlize theron--she had lots of coaching to rid herself of her afrikaaner accent.

sam riley is not american , i can assure you , i have known him my whole life. i realy dont think they could of found anyone better to play the late great mr curtis

AgentWood wrote: i don't know any brits, aussies, etc. who live here who have american accents! i can still pinpoint the county they come from (or london borough) if they're british, or if they're aussie, kiwi, or from south africa--even if they've lived here for 25 years. when i lived in london, near the end of my 2nd year i had people who didn't believe that i was american; they thought i was from london. i didn't realize i was speaking any different, i just picked it up, i guess. not sure if i can do it anymore, though.

I'm afraid that your experiences exist in some bizarre parallel universe to mine, AW. I know of plenty of people who've spent barely a week in the US and have started picking up an accent.

I get the impression that your experiences being a traveller aren't quite representative of your nation as a whole (as is that case for many of your arguments on these boards!). It's pretty well-documented that US citizens aren't the greatest nation of travellers outside of their borders and even when they do, they often take their little world along with them. Not directed at you personally, but a trend all the same.

A weight of evidence suggests that English-speakers from outside the US can generally mimic and/or pick up an American accent quite easily. And yet Americans generally struggle to pick up other English-speaking accents as easily.

The reasons are as clear as day. We are so bombarded with US culture here from the day we start watching Sesame Street as a toddler until the day we die in front of The Young & The Restless. A scary thought. Your accents and cultural traits become second nature to us. Yet most of the US is traditionally so immersed in its own culture that the reciprocal argument simply doesn't work. They don't have the same endless exposure to other English-speaking TV and film to afford them easy reproduction of other accents.

Does this have an effect on American actors' abilities to reproduce accents for films and TV? I'd argue yes - to an extent, as the backlash on this thread would suggest. Recent memories of American actors murdering Aussie accents in Lost, or Don Cheadle's Mockney or Renee Zellwegger's Bwidget don't have too many reciprocal accent crimes in the US. Most English, Aussie and Kiwi actors sound more seamless in their US accents. Exceptions exist, although I'm struggling to come up with an American who's ever mastered an Aussie accent. Meryl Streep possiby came the closest in "A Cry in the Dark" (Evil Angels). Perhaps Mel Gibson still has it in him, who knows.

:\pimp3:

ben cruse wrote: sam riley is not american , i can assure you , i have known him my whole life. i realy dont think they could of found anyone better to play the late great mr curtis

Think I just heard a general sigh of relief from this thread.

So for those of us who don't know jack about him, can you tell us why he's so perfect for the role?

:\pimp3:

some people can do accents, some can't. some people loose their accents some don't. the same goes for actors.

yes there a large number of Aussies in Hollywood who can do good American accents, like heath ledger, and hugh jack man. some like Anthony la pagila and mel gibson can't even speak aussie anymore. some like old rutsty, yes i know he's a kiwi, but he call Australia home, don't even try to speak american. there is a reasonably famous singer in oz, jimmy barnes, who came out here when he was about three years of age, and still speaks with a noticeably scottish accent

from personal experience. almost nobody can tell that i come from Germany. i usually get south africa, on new zealand, both yuck, or even no accent depending on how tired an/or emotional i am. my brother doesn't have an accent at all. i have a friend who came out to this wide brown land about the same time i did, who still has the thickest german accent going, and will never loose it. i know any number of people from englad schotland, canada, and the usa here who have been here for 20 or even 30 years who will never loose their accents.

if need be i think i can do a decent american accent, just give me two weeks over there. a northern english accent could be a bit more difficult, but i've had a good 20 years to practice that one.

so in conclusion. some people/actors as some actors lose their accents, or can do accents, and some never lose their accent of origin, and can't do other accents. granted some accents are more difficult to achieve than others. dc has a point. most people in the english speaking world given a little time can do a more than passable mid western american accent, as yes we have been exposed to it for so long.

the argument is dead as he's a pom anyway, so he shouldn't have too much trouble portraying an Englishman.

Can a Leeds lad pull of a manc accent ?

*stir* *stir*

Why couldn't they have gone for a Macclesfield lad?

:evil:

Nicky wrote:

JonnyMac wrote:

Nicky wrote:

I do agree with you, I'm English, but still, it doesn't bother me. I'm not a manc, but I live near there. I'm from Hull, anyone know where that is?

Of course, it's just over the Quebec border from Ottawa.

Actually, I am more concerned that the bloke can do the stage presence and the dancing.

Mind you we Irish have been much abused by Hollywood accent wise (Think Tom Cruise in Home And Away). Then there was that film with Sinead O'Connor in it where they gave out language cards for the audience in America so that they could understand it. They may have done this with The Commitments too if I remember correctly.

Still its disappointing that yerman Cillian Murphy didn't get the job. Would have been great to hear Curtis in a Cork accent.

Dis is de wey, step inside la.

Jonathan. Cork.

Ha! Ha! Ha! I'm English, I wasn't aware of there being a Hull in Canada...but, last time I checked...I'm a 100% Brit. English Hull.

Hull, Canada - pronounced 'ull.

Hull, U.K. - home of the Housemartins. Happy hour again. Hull 4 - 0 'ull

[orange]depthcharge[/orange] wrote:

A weight of evidence suggests that English-speakers from outside the US can generally mimic and/or pick up an American accent quite easily. And yet Americans generally struggle to pick up other English-speaking accents as easily.

but can they fool an american with their accents? just as an aussie probably isn't fooled when an american plays an aussie (even though the accent might sound perfect to an american), or a brit isn't fooled when an american plays a brit (while an american might be), americans can tell when someone is butchering a regional american accent or when they're doing it well. ian holm, for example, tries his best when he plays an american, but you can tell he's british, particularly when he speaks quickly.

when i saw 'fargo' with some scottish friends (in scotland), they couldn't understand the humour of the 'minnesota nice' accent, which is part of what makes the film so funny. in fact, they couldn't pinpoint the regional accent at all.

you're right, american culture is very pervasive, but it's as hard to fool an american as it is to fool someone with another english accent. it takes a lot of training to perfect any accent. nobody who hasn't had training can spend a week, a month, or even a year in the US and fool an american with their 'american' accent! same goes for the UK, australia, new zealand, etc.

edit: BTW, you're right. my travel experiences aren't 'normal' for an average american. but that's just fine with me. my experiences are my own--whether i'm american, british, or bloody mongolian.;)

The next Ian...?

The next Ian...?

Gawd.. I hope not. Spider-man just doesn't seem to make a good Ian. Unless he goes spastic, dances and stops web-spinning, wall crawling.

Ronald Kirsch wrote: from personal experience. almost nobody can tell that i come from Germany. i usually get south africa, on new zealand, both yuck....

For an Aussie that's like the pot calling the kettle black, seeing as strine is so easy on the ear

shot bru wrote:

Ronald Kirsch wrote: from personal experience. almost nobody can tell that i come from Germany. i usually get south africa, on new zealand, both yuck....

For an Aussie that's like the pot calling the kettle black, seeing as strine is so easy on the ear

i prefer the educated oz form of speech. i may be a bit biased, but of all the english accents it is probably the most pleasant form of spoken english. i agree with you on strine though. i don't want to start some debate on which ist the best form of english out there. this is just a personal opinion.

isn't every accent a 'regional' accent? the man who played daphne's brother on those embarassing episodes of frasier was playing a cockney; that's regional. sarf london--regional. sloane ranger--regional (if that's the word for it). i have a regional accent--or at least i used to. when i moved to boston, people knew i was from 'out west' even though i was oblivious as to the subtleties of my accent. the only thing i knew was that i said 'pop' while everyone else said 'soda.' now i suppose i have the multi-regional 'generic american accent.'

Think 'regional' dialects and accents have fairly specific meaning in the UK.

As you mention, there are different accents across London, but true regional dialects are more distinct in their boundaries outside of the South-East.

There have been movements recently trying to preserve 'regional dialects' from being diluted out of existence by the 'Estuary English' of the South-East.

Down here, you'd only delineate between the generic Australian spoken in most capital cities and the 'regional' variants in a few rural areas.

:\pimp3:

Al Jarvis wrote: Not an expert on Lost, but you're right. Didn't the Hobbit have a brother in the series who appeared to be born somewhere between Kings X, London, and Kings X, Sydney. Accent all over the shop.

All over the shop and he wasn't the worst of them. Having re-watched the first series recently, it was cringeful stuff. Air hostesses, police commissioners, relatives and fortune-tellers all managed to sound like Shane Warne's Saffer cousin living with a roomful of boozy Kiwis in Hackney. But the worst accent crimes were committed by an old duck who was supposed to be shacked up in Kalgoorlie, of all places. Where the 'Strine twang should be as thick as two planks. Instead she sounded more Afrikaaner than anything else identifiable.

Just downloading the final few episodes of series two now and things have improved a little. Not as much action set in Aus this time around!

:\pimp3:

[orange]depthcharge[/orange] wrote: Think 'regional' dialects and accents have fairly specific meaning in the UK.

they do here, as well. boston, new york/northern new jersey, chicago, minnesota nice, louisiana cajun, smooth georgia drawl, texan, philly, SoCal, etc.

the worst butchering of an aussie accent on lost that i noticed has to be claire's friend (the one who took her to the fortune teller). appalling.

Yes, Sam Riley as in 10,000 THINGS.

Sam riley isn't American, he's a Yorkshire boy and he is (apparently) doing a very good job.

Here is the link to the working website, which is updated as filming commences. There are links to someones blog which has pictures of the filming process on there:

http://members.aol.com/lwtua/these.htm

Here is the link to the actual website once the film is finished:

http://www.controlthemovie.com/

and the picture on the homepage is of Sam Riley... a pretty good likening I think.

the mcphun wrote:

Here is the link to the actual website once the film is finished:

http://www.controlthemovie.com/

and the picture on the homepage is of Sam Riley... a pretty good likening I think.

I'm pretty sure the picture is actually of Ian isn't it?

Yeah it is. I have used to have that on my wall.. as a youth..........

:bag:

There's a picture of Sam Riley as Ian in this month's Mojo magazine...green raincoat, red shirt etc.

Ok, it probably is then, but I was informed otherwise.

I know there was a load of promo shots done of him mimicking Ian, so I just assumed that would be one of them.

lampkin wrote: Yes, Sam Riley as in 10,000 THINGS.

Welcome Sam! How's the filming going so far?