Posted by Neil at 205.163.142.226 on December 21, 1999 at 17:48:49:
In Reply to: I don't think Kevin's dialogue sounds everyday-ish posted by Placenta Jones on December 21, 1999 at 16:50:13:
: Think about it...
I've done so.
: I love Kevin's dialogue, but I find it to be very stylized. There's a lot of word play, an obvious love of language. His dialogue is meant to be said in with a certain cadence and rhythm. His dialogue reminds me of some of Woody Allen's stuff or Whit Stillman. Writer/directors who make you aware that you are listening to very meticulously crafted language. Instead of inviting you into a replica of the real world, they want to make you notice the sounds, shapes, and intonations of words and speech.
Exactly, there's a fascinating special kind of brilliance to it, but it can't be confused with the way normal people speak to one another. That's why it seems to remain a struggle for Kevin to get actors who can consistently pull it off. Ben can. Jason Lee has gotten it down - he was stilted in places during MALLRATS.
: I'm not saying I prefer one style over the other, but there is nothing "real" about the way Kevin's characters talk. Everyone is "super-real", hyper-aware, and always ready to shoot back with the most ingenious thing they could say. Nothin' ordinary about that.
Exactly.
And for the record, if acting is going to be your chosen bag in life, then I'd start listening to real people on the street and in buses - tape them and listen to it if you must - or you'll never get it down. If you can't effectively make dialogue - no matter how it's written - sound the way real people talk, you'll never get anywhere. The first step to that is being aware of how they do talk, when and why.