Actors Swallowing Words: A Rant

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 8:48am

Something irritates the hell out of me. What is it with some actors swallowing, gargling and mutilating words? I was watching The Lord of the Rings movies last night, and Ian McKellen swallowed so many words, as did John Rhys-Davies. Whatever happened to actors talking loudly? Barbara Stanwyck, nee little Ruby Stevens from Brooklyn, could be heard across the street from the theatre. What a broad!
Updated On: 12/14/08 at 08:48 AM

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 9:13am

And she never starred in anything as dull as The Lord of the Rings!

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 9:17am

Can you give a specific example of McKellen's word-swallowing in LORD OF THE RINGS? I've seen the films several times, and can't think of a single instance of word-swallowing or sloppy diction in it.

QUANTUM OF SOLACE is a far worse offender in this regard, I thought. Way too many foreign-accented actors speaking way too low and husky, but even the sublime Jeffrey Wright was almost unintelligible in a couple of scenes.

I recently saw the current GYPSY and was appalled at the laziness of a lot of the performances. The second act scene between a stripper and a comic was comletely unintelligible, I just couldn't make out a single damn word. Heard it clearly enough, loud and clear, the diction was the problem.

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 9:36am

"And she never starred in anything as dull as The Lord of the Rings!"

John, I actually like those movies, but that comment made me howl. Maybe I'm still feeling the effects of the steroid shot the doctor gave me yesterday for my sinuses. I thought it would make me manly, but it made me domestic instead. This apartment is clean! I wonder if Ian McKellen can say the same, at least to where I could understand him.

[Weez]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 10:13am

Actually, I was having similar thoughts recently. I've gone super-nerdy and seen a lot of classical plays over the last year, including an array of Chekhov, twelve from the RSC, and a whole mess of further Shakespeare plays. Last week, I went to see 'War Horse' and 'August: Osage County' at the National, and while both plays were fabulous and I enjoyed them both hugely, I couldn't help but miss the crystal-clear enunciation of classical performance. I may not go a bundle for Patrick Stewart's acting, but I'm learning to appreciate that at least I can understand every word he says.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 11:27am

nmartin, nothing's manlier/sexier than a guy cleaning stuff.

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 11:57am

nygrl232,
You're one sweet tomato.
Love,
Mr. Clean

[nygrl232]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 12:24pm

I'm a stand-up tomato. A juicy, sexy, beefsteak tomato.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 1:57pm

So....no Benicio Del Toro Film Festival in your future, yes?

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/14/08 at 2:27pm

Benecio del Toro, NO!
Dolores del Río, YES!!