If you thought the worst aspect to Don Cheadle’s character in the Ocean’s movies was his name, Basher Tarr, think again. His utter dismantling of the British accent is not just bad, it’s disastrous. Playing a Cockney bomb expert, anything explosive seems to be more in regard to the way he speaks his lines. Among the many low points is his attempt at rhyming slang: Cheadle’s saying, “We’re in Barney. Barney Rubble. Trouble!” is about as painful an experience as you’re ever likely to hear when you watch a movie. Indeed, Cheadle even had the chutzpah to try to justify it when he told the Observer “My British friends … tell me [it’s] a truly terrible London accent in Ocean’s Thirteen. You know something, I really worked on that accent. Went to London, spoke to people, got to know it … my Oagent said it was fine, so I’m stuck with this thing. Even though everyone laughs at me. So I sacked her, of course.” At least he had the decency to eventually apologize: upon receiving the Spirit of Independence Award in Los Angeles for his commitment to artistic independence, he said, “Forgive me! I won’t do it again!” But the damage had been done.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/JqjrQb85pXA]