Or does every fucker on to and film mumble through their lines?

[PiperChapstick]

Watched a shit Jake Gyllenhaal film last night that didn't have subtitles available and I must have pressed the rewind button 50 times as I couldn't bloody understand a thing anyone said. Unless the script actually was as follows:

Man: Bfmfmumin sububmuff flubburfur

Woman: I clufferdufferf runyhumbut

Man: yeah bluffur shuburt wididhiy

It's a regular occurance in my house, I watch about 75% of tv and film with subtitles on now shouting "ENUNCIATE GODDAMN YOU"

Am I just a deaf unreasonable old bastard or do other people experience this?

Heath Ledger mumbled his way through brokeback mountain not a word was uttered it drove me nuts

Don't even get me started on The Wire

Matthew Mconaghey (?) is the worst for this, especially since he's become 'good'. I had no problem understanding him in the romantic comedy shite he did 10-15 years ago, but I could understand bugger all of his drawl in True Detective and Interstellar. Does good acting mean mumbling?

I read somewhere recently that TV producers here(UK) have been recommended to listen to their programmes under normal TV conditions before they are released, in order to check that they are easily understandable.

Oh I was going to mention him wingmirrorspider! I have been told that True Detective is fantastic but I can't make out a word. James Spade is utterly inaudible to me. I am dependent on hearing aids so I wasn't sure if it was just me...

*Spader.

The Walking Dead is terrible for this. I don't mind the zombies doing it but Rick and Daryl have no excuse.

Also Game of Thrones. I had to replay Stannis's brilliant 'fewer' line with subtitles to get it but the subtitles kept kicking in too late so I had to run it right back. If the scriptwriter gives you a good line, make sure people can hear it.

Jon Snow mumbles but Tyrion is as clear as a bell - even if his accent is weird.

And they're both too dark.

YY to The Wire and Matthew McConnaughey. Yes, I think he has made a decision to mumble now he's more serious.

This drivs me nuts, so glad it's not just me. I had to switch to subtitles for lots of stuff, mumbling actors or else too loud music. But then you miss action/ expressions as you are still reading. Does anyone know who we complain to? Is there a petition we can sign?

We bought a sound bar for precisely this reason. There are certain films I could only make out every third word. Yes, Tinker Tailor stands out. Reservoir Dogs Dogs. Loads of stuff.

Thankyou for your explanation oneeyedbloke. Really interesting

Thanks oneyedbloke. Is it recent?

I wasn't very well recently and snuggled up in bed with some favourite DVDs and a crappy little portable DVD player that doesn't even have separate speakers - the sound comes from the single built-in speaker.

They're things from the 80s and 90s such as Life of Brian, Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Roxanne, Splash and A Fish Called Wanda. You can hear every word and it's not just that I've watched them so many times I know the scripts off by heart

laundryelf I watch a lot of foreign language stuff and I've got the hang of reading subtitles.

You have to quickly dip your eyes, take in the subtitle and then drag your eyes away and look at the action. It's hard to do because your instinct is to dwell on the subtitles and then you miss the visuals.

It takes practice but you'll learn to take the subtitles in very quickly.

Funny how things were way better 30-40 years ago with way simpler technology

Isn't it just It's only fair to say I do have a hearing impairment - but it's slight and there's no doubt it's only responsible for some of today's difficulties. It's actually quite a relief to know that those who cry "oh it's you" aren't necessarily correct

I know programmes and films are meant to be atmospheric but jeez i watched harry potter7 squinting

And i gave up on Wolf Hall bloody candles

Oh God,...I thought it was just me and my hearing was going!! It's worse too when they insist on playing music alongside the dialogue. I am constantly rewinding and turning the volume up but still can't tell what they are saying.

Thanks for that, oneeyedbloke. Very interesting and informative.

Clearly you are a lone-ish voice amongst sound engineers. Others need to step out of their own little bubble and realise just how atrociously some of their soundtracks are coming across in people's living rooms.

Without subtitles I often have no idea what is going on. It can ruin an otherwise good film or drama.

Actually it is the art of speaking that has also been lost, I have been Known to state 'if you can't enunciate I can't understand you so there is no point in talking to you' at people before stomping off But seriously if i have asked you to repeat yourself and I struggle with running taps being too loud because my hearing is hypersensitive then you are the issue no my hearing.

I suspect that actor would pretty soon complain and avoid directors /directors avoid sound technicians if they forced the issue. Don't cause a fuss, do job and run. There is no pride in quality of work anymore. Just he who brings the most money to the project.

Kristen Stewart is the queen of mumble. You can't even work out what's going on from her facial expressions because she's only got the one!

Oh my god. I can't tell you how much this has cheered me up.

I watch virtually all television with subtitles now because, apart from the odd programme - things like question time and the news - I just cannot make out what people are saying. I assumed it's just me getting old and losing my hearing, but then a bit of music will come on or the ads and I'm grabbing the remote to turn it down before it burst my eardrums. It takes away so much of the pleasure.

It's interesting what you said oneeyedbloke about the American accent. I watch very few American programmes now because it's just too frustrating. At least with the English programmes I can catch some of the words but with the American accent all I hear is mumble, mumble mumble.

YANBU!

I watch most things with subtitles for exactly this reason. DH laughs and calls me deaf but when I ask him what X just said, he doesn't know either.

I'm in my mid 30s so hearing shouldn't be going yet surely?