1 day later, it occurred to me that all the grunting reminded me of Marge on "The Simpsons".
Did Turner have a habit of grunting at everything that displeased him?
Bless my eyes!
Right this way, sir.
Fresh supplies!
You have to read this "translation" of the various grunts, it's so funny:
http://www.vulture.com/2014/05/cannes-a-grunt-by-grunt-guide-to-mr-tur ner.html
Perhaps it was intended to be funny, it simply made clear that the reviewer is not London born and bred. As a South Londoner I had no difficulty in clearly hearing Spall's performance.
In the same way that "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" had to have subtitles for the American market perhaps Mr Turner needs some for non-Brits, or Brits not from The Smoke.
Come on lads, bags of swank!
I don't know what gave you the idea that I or other viewers didn't understand his performance. Are you questioning whether the article was meant to be funny? It's obviously an affectionate tribute to the movie and in no way implies that the movies needs translation.
shareNo, ma'am I intended no such suggestion, although other posts on the board ARE claiming that difficulty.
I found the article a little heavy handed in it's approach and being an Englishman transplanted (happily) to the United States have to regularly "translate" British movies or TV programs to Americans. Perhaps the increasingly homogeneous Middle American favored by television, bereft of any regional influence has dulled their ability to perceive other accents.
Come on lads, bags of swank!
i hear you! 😃
shareagreed. I understood all perfectly, but was somewhat unfamiliar with some of the 19-century phrases. I find i curious that most Americans think everyone else has an 'accent'.
shareHis grunting and way of speaking, when he did speak, really reminded me a David Sowerbutts, a character on Psychoville. So much so it was distracting.
sharehared the screeching violin! Made me want to tear my hair out! aside from that I find little to complain about. But not a movie I would watch again.
shareI didn't find it distracting at all. . . Turner had a personality that required little conversation. Maybe the grunt was sort of like the "uh-huh", "yeah" of today.
shareall the grunting reminded me of Marge on "The Simpsons"