I live in Massachusetts but not in Boston. I used to live there but moved nearly 10 years ago. Outside of Boston there is an entire other state – excuse me – Commonwealth. And want to know something? We all don’t have Boston accents. Want to know something else? Most people who are from Boston don’t have Boston accents.
But that is news to Hollywood! I just saw a preview for Mel Gibson’s new movie which was shot around this area over a year ago. Apparently he plays a cop avenging his daughter’s murder and it is set in Boston so of course, Mel has a shitty Boston accent. On 30 Rock recently Julianne Moore had a horrific one.
The only actors who should be allowed to do Boston accents are: Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon and the Brothers Affleck. Why? They’re actually from Boston so they know what it sounds like and probably even know people who talk like that. The so-called accent isn’t even the whole city! It is a small little region of South Boston but according to Hollywood everyone in the city and outside 128 talk like this.
I know how pervasive it is because I recently talked to a friend in the midwest on the phone for the first time and she was surprised to hear I didn’t have an accent! BTW I will not be seeing this movie because I have no use for Mel or Mel-related-products, but I did just watch a preview on-line and recognized two local places so that was pretty cool.
You bring up a good point, about how movies and television shows often VASTLY exaggerate “local” accents. As you know, I’m from New Jersey myself, but my parents (and their parents) were both from Brooklyn. Most of the New York accents on television are actually fairly on point. However, the New Jersey ones are RIDICULOUS!
NOBODY says New JOISEY . . . except for maybe very old ladies living in Deal. Yes, I have a New Jersey accent. (I say “yestaday” and “whateva” and “cawfee” and “tawk”). And, yes, when I drink, or get really angry, it gets a lot worse. But I NEVER “OI” my “ERs.”
In fact, most “Northern New Jersey” accents are really just less intense New York accents. While “Southern New Jerseyans” talk a bit like they are from Philadelphia.
To make a long story short, TV and movie writers should always ASK a local first . . .
(Oh, and I HATE MEL GIBSON too!
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This made me laugh — it’s so true! I grew up in Boston and therefore, have the accent (it’s worse when I drink or I’m tired). Fast forward to the present. My son and daughter have no accent whatsoeva! We live about 20 miles west of Boston (outside 128) and no one in my town who grew up there has an accent. It is seriously limited to the metro-Boston area LOL