Am I getting old or?...

[PurplePepperEater]

Is everyone in films constantly fucking mumbling these days?!

DP is making me watch some shit with Tom Hardy in it and we’ve got the volume up 3x louder than normal yet they’re still barely audible

Mumble mumble mumble
Gruff breathy voices
Mumble mumble mumble

It’s pissing me right off
It’s a good job he’s pretty and I can appreciate it without hearing what he’s saying but still!

Is it just me?

There is no such thing as 'shit with Tom Hardy in it'

Many years ago my DH and I stayed with his parents for a few weeks between houses. His dad spent the entire time in front of the telly with remote in hand, putting the volume up and down like a fucking yo-yo. I was ready to murder him, I really was.
Fast forward to today and I’m doing exactly the same thing. Unintelligible mumbling interspersed with eleventy-billion decibel explosions and screeching. I’m turning into my FIL. Just shoot me now

I watched the original house of cards with Ian Richardson on iPlayer, you can hear every word that man says clearly. It’s wonderful. Can you imagine young actors now doing a Shakespeare play & mumbling all the way through?.

Do they not teach diction anymore at stage school?. Dh complains bitterly about this all the time too.

Taboo wasn’t great. We sat through the whole series waiting for it to get going too.

I didn't like Taboo ( sorry Tom )

Couldn't see as it was dark

Couldn't hear due to mumbling

tom hardy is dreamy

try it with subtitles-my dsis is always turnning up and down her tv one minute she cant hear it then something blows up and she shits herself

BrizzleMint this is how we decided what to watch:
DP: Oh I’ve heard this is pretty good
Me staring at MN: what is it?
DP: it’s a Tom Hardy film, it’s...
Me: Ok

I’m surprised at people saying it’s a good film though, it feels a bit channel 5/lifetime channel to me 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m so glad to hear I’m not getting old though, going to see if I can figure out how to put the subtitles on now...

My hearing is spot on, my eyesight not so much!

DP: it’s a Tom Hardy film, it’s...
Me: Ok

Whilst we’re talking about diction and enunciation may I also offer you all Ariana Grande? I swear that woman has no consonants! Never got a clue what she’s saying, I sing ‘bacon eggs’ to what I’m now informed is a song called ‘thankyou next’
Constantly shouting ‘enunciate!’ At the radio 🙄

It's my sight that seems to be going! Important information to the plot is often shown in a note or a text message to one of the characters, and I'm often not able to read it.

I’m with you Purple. And they’re turning the street lamps down. Bastards.

Nope I concur and I'm only 29.

Twilight practically needs subtitles...

I'm so glad it's not just me. Have to rewind to listen again and still none the wiser. Just speak up ffs. Also the dark films, just no need for it.

DH is always fiddling with the audio controls too, drives me mad.

MargotSimpson that cracked me up! That’s me to a T

Glad it's not just me! I've even been to have my hearing tested. It's apparently fine. I have to have a lot of programmes up v loud or have the subtitles on!

Yes they are. I have the subtitles on when watching tv/Netflix these days because I can't understand what they're saying half the time.

This is why I lasted all of fifteen minutes into The Wire. I couldn't make out a bloody word of it, even with the volume up!

I thought this, watching Shetland.
Hadnt a bloody clue what was going on.

Just been informed by DH the audio whizz that if we had surround sound speakers we would be able to hear it clearly. He has been trying for years to get these in situ, I have resisted all attempts.

I don't care, I'm not having monolithic statues in my living room. I don't want it to look like a crappy version of Easter Island thanks

We now unashamedly watch almost everything with subtitles. We're mid 30s! Can't bloody hear anything any one of these mumbling idiots is on about.

We've had a sound bar for a couple of weeks with 'clear voice'. Game changer

Completely agree. Thought it was just me. Can’t be doing with the mumbling. Hate watching through the gloom too , it’s so depressing. Also drive my DH nuts by saying ‘ that just wouldn’t happen ‘ and ‘as if they/ he/she would behave like that ‘ I know it’s all for entertainment but some things on tv are just so far fetched

I have subtitles on all the time. Given that I mostly watch documentaries, you'd think that at least the voice-overs would be clear.

God bless David Attenborough for his clear diction, is what I say.

And it's not just some American voices, what with the tendency to pronounce "t" as "d" - so many waders serving in restaurants.

X-Files fans of old will recognise the term "the Mulder mumble".

These days, many actors won't have gone through the experience of acting on stage where both pronunciation and projection are necessary. If all they know is TV or movie, they'll rely on microphones. And could think that expressing deep moments needs to be done with a quiet voice. Good directors who have experience in stagecraft could encourage them to use projection, but these days many directors don't have stage experience either.

Playback doesn't help either, because of course the director and actors already know what the lines are, so they don't hear it as the audience would.

And please don't get me started on the background music to documentaries ....

Anyone else tried to watch Interstellar? I don't know if I got a dodgy DVD or not. I'm going to try it with the subtitles on. It looks good, I'll probably enjoy it more when I can work out what they are saying above the roar of the engines.

I love True Detective but have no real clue what's going on

HAH! Me neither LaurieFairyCake. I sat there for a full ten minute stretch of dialogue last night, and I did not understand a single word that was said. I was trying really hard.