Wife's Accent

The wife's accent was not the most horrible part of the movie, that would be the son's accent which I found hideously irritating not to mention his horrible hair.

Of course, being Irish, I find all Yank accents horribly irritating and all British accents too, which is kinda irritating all by itself since most mainstream movies involve Yank or Brit accents!

She has the accent because she's British, although of course most Brit actors can do very convincing American accents (Hugh Laurie is a good current example); she may not have wanted to do an American accent but why should she? I'm a Brit married to an American and living in Los Angeles and nobody ever comments on my accent. The OP, nicoleclark44, sounds very parochial when she says "Why did the wife have to have an accent?"
As for the criticisms of Ms Rylance's acting, a lot of her apparent difficulty was that the script the actors were working with was remarkably clumsy, even inept. But that doesn't alter the fact that Juliet Rylance (her stepdad is the astounding UK actor Mark Rylance, who has just won yet another Tony Award) is herself an accomplished and award-winning actress with a distinguished résumé.

Why did the wife have to have an accent?
Everyone has an accent unless you can't talk, but I get what you mean.

Hi Nicole
To us Brits its you Americans that have an accent, after all we speak our native tongue whereas Americans only borrow the English language haha

I agree with other posters that the wife was a lousy actress and a weakness for the movie, imagine how good Kate Winslett or Beckinsale couldve been ? but maybe not so cheap haha

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I agree. I can't quite place my finger on why it was annoying, but every time she spoke and especially when she was nagging and yelling I had to mute my speakers.

She's good in 'The Knick'.

It's the harbour towns that the grey metal ships call home.

Accents, annoying, yes. Mother - blonde, father - brunette, daughter - redhead ... huh?