Action films and comedies do not rely that much on character development. Still we want to make our characters memorable and colourful. The simplest way to achieve it is with the way they speak.
1. ARCHETYPES AND VOICE
- The PROTAGONIST is the one who we want our audience to associate with. We try to make him/her the most relatable, therefore the protagonist should speak in the most "neutral" way. Unless it's a biopic, the main character almost never speaks with a distinctive accent. If he/she did, we would run into the danger that some viewers who don't understand or don't like a given accent could feel alienated.
Of course there are exceptions to the rule:
1) In certain genres the protagonist is expected to speak accented English (eg. westerns).
2) Protagonists who are presented as the underdog may speak with an accent which is perceived as inferior (rural accent of Clarice in Silence of the Lambs) or have a speech impediment (Bertie in King's Speech)
In action films the leading man is usually a guy of few words, but when he says something, it's stingy and ironic. Language-wise, action film protagonist is usually characterised by one-liners.
- The VILLAIN. Usually has a speech impediment, or speaks with a distinct accent. Or both. In the past bad guys almost always spoke British English - unless it was a war movie in which case they spoke with a German accent, or a Cold War one when the accent would be Russian. Nowadays they tend to be more clourful. The best way to check which accent is currently most popular for the villain is to watch the newest BOND film ;-)
Goldeneye
- The MENTOR/ORACLE almost always speaks in a unique voice. Mostly because this character is usually played by an actor of ethnicity other than Caucasian or is not (entirely) human.
The unique tone may result from the accent...
Tia Dalma (POTC)
...or phrasing
Yoda (Star Wars)
- The SIDEKICK (especially if he/she is also the COMIC RELIEF) speaks in accented English. Because their role is to be liked by the audience, the accents they speak are usually ones that appeal to majority of people.
Brewer (Rambo - First Blood 2, James Cameron's draft )
EXT. TAXI STAND - STREET - LATE AFTERNOON
Rambo emerges into the stifling humid heat of Bangkok in May
and stands, scanning for a cab.
D-MINUS 51 HRS
BANGKOK, THAILAND
Bangkok is a city of fervid motion and the street is chaotic
with traffic.
Stepping through throngs of Asians and tourists Rambo reaches
for the door of a beat-to-hell Citroen taxi hunkered low at
the curb like some metal lungfish.
He spins as a hand lightly touches his shoulder.
MAN
Sorry old buddy, I saw it first.
An American in his late twenties, the man speaks with one of
those hard-to-dislike Southern accents. Probably North
Carolina.
He is lanky but muscular, with boyish good looks and hair cut
so short it barely qualifies as stubble. Though dressed in a
loud Hawaiian shirt and Madras slacks, it is painfully
obvious the man is military.
(...)
Rambo grabs the man brutally by his collar.
RAMBO
That’s enough, Brewer.
The American freezes at the sound of his name. Turns slowly.
BREWER
(realizing)
You’re Rambo?
(pause)
Ker-rist!
If the sidekick is a child, s/he's either damn cute...
Short Round (Indiana Jones: The Temple of Doom)
... or mute
Feral Kid (Mad Max II)
- You've probably noticed that we haven't analysed the ATTRACTOR yet. It's because usually the same rules apply as with the protagonist.
Of course there are some exceptions again:
1) Stereotyping - Americans like the British accent in females, so sometimes the love interest is a shy girl from England. Similarly, male love interest may speak with French accent.
2) In "bridging the gap between cultures" movies, the (usually female) character may speak accented English.
Luc (French Kiss)
Neytiri (Avatar)
JAKE
Slow down a second will you. I just want
to thank you for killing those --
He makes the mistake of grasping her shoulder and --
WHACK! She WALLOPS him upside the head with her bow in a
fierce backhand swing, laying him out flat.
He looks up to see a FURY standing over him. A Fury who
speaks English -- accented, halting, angry English.
NEYTIRI
Don’t thank! You don’t thank for this!
This is sad. Very sad, only.
2. VOICE IN COMEDY
Accents are fun and serve to strengthen stereotypes and mutual animosity among some social groups.
Just a couple of examples from my favourite films and TV shows:
1) Cockney vs Scouse (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels)
2) French vs stereotypical Englishman who can't speak local language (Allo, allo)
3) German vs Italian
4) Scouse vs Brummie
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