Top 5 worst southern accents in movies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

waichingliu81 · 07-30-2009, 04:59 PM

The Five Worst Southern Accents
A Seriously Random List XL / Dustin Rowles

December 19, 2008

One of our illustrious Eloquents, branded, suggested a Seriously Random List tackling the Five Worst Accents in film, but as I looked around, it became fairly obvious that there are four accents so bad that they must be included on every list of that nature, rendering mine duplicative (those accents: Christopher Lambert in Highlander, Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Don Cheadle in the Ocean’s films, and Kevin Cosnter in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves). So, I decided, instead, to narrow it down. You’d think it’d be easy to do a Southern accent, but it’s really quite amazing how terrible most of them are, relics of the Civil-War era Confederacy. It’s all variations on Gone with the Wind. Few get it right (I like Lucas Black’s in Sling Blade because it sounds like home — probably because it was his actual accent), while even more get it horribly, horribly wrong.

Here are the worst five Southern accents in film.

5. Tom Hanks in The Ladykillers: Tom Hanks can do a decent Southern accent (see, Charlie Wilson’s War, which was just OK), and I have no doubt that his accent in Ladykillers had the intended effect he was going for. I’m just annoyed because the Ladykiller’s accent has nothing in common with the South, but for Colonel Sanders. It was amusingly off-base for a few minutes, but after an entire movie of it, it became intolerable. I blame the Coen brothers more than I do Hanks.

4. James Van Der Beek in Varsity Blues: Deliciously awful. The absolutely best awful Southern accent ever put on film. Moxon! His name is Moxon! Let’s be Heroes, people.

3. Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama: Poor girl didn’t stand a chance, not when she was sharing scenes with Josh Lucas, an Arkansas boy. Still, Witherspoon’s accent came and went, but when it came, it was ear-piercingly awful. Points for the attitude, but nobody in the South speaks that fast, even when they’re angry.

Honorable Mention: Kim Basinger in 8 Mile: Not because it was a bad Southern accent, but because the character was from Detroit!

2. Julia Roberts in Charlie Wilson’s War: The ****? What was that? It was as though she were trying to channel Anne Richards and one of those fake, Dan Aykroyd Hah-vahd accents from Trading Places. A complete abomination. That Roberts was nominated for an Academy Award for a similarly bad Southern accent in Steel Magnolias just proves that there are apparently no Southerners among Academy voters.

1. Renee Zellwegger in Cold Mountain: Holy ****! Here, Zellwegger was asked to do the Southern accent during the Civil War era, which has got to be the easiest accent to do, since it’s all crazy, drawn out vowels. It’s fairly difficult to mess that up, but boy howdy did Zellwegger manage it. She just clobbers it to death, as though she’s doing Annie Oakley in a Wisconsin high-school production. What’s even more criminal is the fact that Zellwegger is actually Southern.

http://www.pajiba.com/seriously_rand...rn-accents.php

browneyes106 · 07-30-2009, 06:00 PM

I couldn't stand James Van Der Beek or Renee Zellewegger's accents.

LuLu Rogers · 07-30-2009, 06:29 PM

I was born and raised in here in Alabama, and I've yet to hear anyone in a movie that sounds like we do. A few come close, but no one ever seems to be able to nail it.

Marvo301 · 07-30-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuLu Rogers

I was born and raised in here in Alabama, and I've yet to hear anyone in a movie that sounds like we do. A few come close, but no one ever seems to be able to nail it.

Lauren, you need to go to Hollywood and show them how it's done!!!

LuLu Rogers · 07-30-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Lauren, you need to go to Hollywood and show them how it's done!!!

I have always wanted to act

sunshinefizzy · 07-30-2009, 06:51 PM

Well, isn't it interesting that 3 of the people on the list to my knowledge are from the south!!! Renee is from Texas, Julia is from Georgia and Reese is from Louisiana. BTW, Julia's accent in Steel Magnolias wasn't as bad as Darryl Hannah's!!! I don't even know why she tried!!!

LuLu Rogers · 07-30-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunshinefizzy

Well, isn't it interesting that 3 of the people on the list to my knowledge are from the south!!! Renee is from Texas, Julia is from Georgia and Reese is from Louisiana. BTW, Julia's accent in Steel Magnolias wasn't as bad as Darryl Hannah's!!! I don't even know why she tried!!!

Oh I agree, Daryl's was awful

browneyes106 · 07-30-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunshinefizzy

Well, isn't it interesting that 3 of the people on the list to my knowledge are from the south!!! Renee is from Texas, Julia is from Georgia and Reese is from Louisiana. BTW, Julia's accent in Steel Magnolias wasn't as bad as Darryl Hannah's!!! I don't even know why she tried!!!

I found it weird that Renee, Reese and Julia were on the list. For some reason Renee's accent in Cold Mountain annoyed me. Reese said once in a interview that when she was younger her accent was very Southern but once she got into acting she started dropping her accent to get different kinds of roles.

Schmoopie · 08-01-2009, 05:15 AM

I can't believe I'm criticizing this movie because it's one of my favorites, but Sandra Bullock's Texas accent in "Hope Floats" wasn't exactly what I would consider "realistic". However, it was sort of believable and she did a wonderful job in the lead role. I still think it was a crime that she wasn't nominated for an Academy Award for this movie!

On the other hand, Harry Connick Jr. has a New Orleans accent (and a very prominant--and sexy!-one at that!!!), but he was perfect for the role of Justin Matise because he didn't really have to change his accent much at all.

70s show watcher · 08-01-2009, 05:39 AM

i remember david letterman made fun of renne;s accent from cold mountan .for about a week on his show he did this bit called words of wisdom from reene zellwiggger and what would happen was that at random moments all that week a tape of reeene saying if you need help here i am would play for no reason at all it was a funny if annoying bit

07-30-2009, 04:59 PM	#1
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	Top 5 worst southern accents in movies The Five Worst Southern Accents A Seriously Random List XL / Dustin Rowles December 19, 2008 One of our illustrious Eloquents, branded, suggested a Seriously Random List tackling the Five Worst Accents in film, but as I looked around, it became fairly obvious that there are four accents so bad that they must be included on every list of that nature, rendering mine duplicative (those accents: Christopher Lambert in Highlander, Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Don Cheadle in the Ocean’s films, and Kevin Cosnter in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves). So, I decided, instead, to narrow it down. You’d think it’d be easy to do a Southern accent, but it’s really quite amazing how terrible most of them are, relics of the Civil-War era Confederacy. It’s all variations on Gone with the Wind. Few get it right (I like Lucas Black’s in Sling Blade because it sounds like home — probably because it was his actual accent), while even more get it horribly, horribly wrong. Here are the worst five Southern accents in film. 5. Tom Hanks in The Ladykillers: Tom Hanks can do a decent Southern accent (see, Charlie Wilson’s War, which was just OK), and I have no doubt that his accent in Ladykillers had the intended effect he was going for. I’m just annoyed because the Ladykiller’s accent has nothing in common with the South, but for Colonel Sanders. It was amusingly off-base for a few minutes, but after an entire movie of it, it became intolerable. I blame the Coen brothers more than I do Hanks. 4. James Van Der Beek in Varsity Blues: Deliciously awful. The absolutely best awful Southern accent ever put on film. Moxon! His name is Moxon! Let’s be Heroes, people. 3. Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama: Poor girl didn’t stand a chance, not when she was sharing scenes with Josh Lucas, an Arkansas boy. Still, Witherspoon’s accent came and went, but when it came, it was ear-piercingly awful. Points for the attitude, but nobody in the South speaks that fast, even when they’re angry. Honorable Mention: Kim Basinger in 8 Mile: Not because it was a bad Southern accent, but because the character was from Detroit! 2. Julia Roberts in Charlie Wilson’s War: The **? What was that? It was as though she were trying to channel Anne Richards and one of those fake, Dan Aykroyd Hah-vahd accents from Trading Places. A complete abomination. That Roberts was nominated for an Academy Award for a similarly bad Southern accent in Steel Magnolias just proves that there are apparently no Southerners among Academy voters. 1. Renee Zellwegger in Cold Mountain: Holy **! Here, Zellwegger was asked to do the Southern accent during the Civil War era, which has got to be the easiest accent to do, since it’s all crazy, drawn out vowels. It’s fairly difficult to mess that up, but boy howdy did Zellwegger manage it. She just clobbers it to death, as though she’s doing Annie Oakley in a Wisconsin high-school production. What’s even more criminal is the fact that Zellwegger is actually Southern. http://www.pajiba.com/seriously_rand...rn-accents.php

07-30-2009, 06:29 PM	#3
LuLu Rogers Colonel Brandon Forum Fanatic Join Date: Mar 23, 2004 Location: The Hogwarts Dungeons Posts: 11,013	I was born and raised in here in Alabama, and I've yet to hear anyone in a movie that sounds like we do. A few come close, but no one ever seems to be able to nail it.
	__________________ -Lauren- "I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death."-Professor Severus Snape

08-01-2009, 05:15 AM	#9
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I can't believe I'm criticizing this movie because it's one of my favorites, but Sandra Bullock's Texas accent in "Hope Floats" wasn't exactly what I would consider "realistic". However, it was sort of believable and she did a wonderful job in the lead role. I still think it was a crime that she wasn't nominated for an Academy Award for this movie! On the other hand, Harry Connick Jr. has a New Orleans accent (and a very prominant--and sexy!-one at that!!!), but he was perfect for the role of Justin Matise because he didn't really have to change his accent much at all.
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

07-30-2009, 06:00 PM	#2
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	I couldn't stand James Van Der Beek or Renee Zellewegger's accents.

07-30-2009, 06:51 PM	#6
sunshinefizzy Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 27, 2006 Location: Craptown Posts: 2,054	Well, isn't it interesting that 3 of the people on the list to my knowledge are from the south!!! Renee is from Texas, Julia is from Georgia and Reese is from Louisiana. BTW, Julia's accent in Steel Magnolias wasn't as bad as Darryl Hannah's!!! I don't even know why she tried!!!

08-01-2009, 05:39 AM	#10
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	i remember david letterman made fun of renne;s accent from cold mountan .for about a week on his show he did this bit called words of wisdom from reene zellwiggger and what would happen was that at random moments all that week a tape of reeene saying if you need help here i am would play for no reason at all it was a funny if annoying bit