The straw that broke the camel's back a few episodes ago was when Miguel Prado (Smits) jokingly called Dexter a "filipolla" (or "gilipolla"). That's when I realized that whomever Showtime has hired to write the Spanish for the series not only has no idea about what Cuban Spanish sounds like, but also zero idea of what Latin American Spanish sounds like. Having lived in Spain for a few years in my 20s, I know what that word means, which is essentially a curse word used by Spaniards — let me repeat that: Spaniards — to mean asshole or jerk, etc.
I am almost 99% sure that no Cuban in Miami or Cuba or anywhere else in the Great Cuban Diaspora, has ever called anyone a gilipolla, unless perhaps they live in Spain and have picked up the term there... from Spaniards.
But in Miami? Naaaah...
A Cuban would have said "maricon" or perhaps "cabron." But fili/gilipolla? Nunca!
Now imagine those two Brit actors playing Yanks in my earlier French movie example, calling each other "arseholes" or "wankers."
Welcome to my pedantic hell.
And now for Showtime. My list of actor candidates who are actually of Cuban ancestry and thus a shoe-in for the part and who actually speak Spanish with a Cuban accent:
- Andy Garcia (Duh! Perfect for the part — but probably too classy and too expensive to do TV.)
- Nestor Carbonell (He was great in Cane and also in Lost City, although I think that he wears eye make-up?)
- Mel Ferrer (Ah... I think he's dead.)
- Desi Arnaz (Fine, fine... he's definitely dead; but how about Desi Jr.?)
- Jorge Perrugorria
- Cesar Romero (Fine! I know that The Joker is definitely dead.)
- Julio Mechoso
- Ruben Rabasa
- Victor Rivers
- George Alvarez
Article comments
1 - Jean Phillipe
I hear you about the Cuban accent thing, I am a Haitian actor and my pedantic hell is when they hire some dude with a Jamiaican accent or Nigerian accent to play Haitian, an accent I could deliver easily, even though the role is always a demeaning voodoo priest or a drug dealer, I want the role, work is work. Also, Smits, in my humble opinion, is one of the most outstanding hispanic actors working today, with all due respect to Javier Bardem and Benicio Del Toro. Garcia is good but Smits, phony cuban accent aside, is incredible as Miguel Prado and should win an Emmy if those awards folks would do their job. But then again, I 've watched them ignore all those great actors from "The Wire" arguably one of the best shows ever on HBO.
2 - jeff lindsay
believe me, i know.
I hear it from all my friends.
but it's getting better -- first season, i actually heard, "get in the truck, you big conyo."
3 - Tomás
The real question is...why does "Hollywood" always feel that when they have to introduce a Latino character or Latino-themed show it HAS to be a Cuban or Puertorican?
4 - alpe
I'm sure the text talked about something else besides hammering home how "superb" and "brilliant" Jimmy Smits is - if only I could remember it... ;-)
Seriously though, @Jean Philipe: What do you think of the 'genuineness' of the Haitian in "Heroes"?