La Voce

Italians do not like to read subtitles. As a result, virtually every American movie and television show is dubbed into Italian before audiences here view it.

Just one 51-year-old Italian man does voiceovers for a host of American actors. Francesco Pannofino is the voice for Tom Hanks, George Clooney and Sylvester Stallone. He also does Aussie Russell Crowe, Brit Clive Owen and Spaniard Antonio Banderas.

He told The City newspaper that Hanks' Alabama accent in "Forrest Gump" was the most difficult to master.

I can't help but think that something gets lost in translation--"Shrek" would not be the same without Mike Myers attempting a Scottish accent. And I have a hard time believing Russell Crowe sounds as gruff and cranky or Clive Owen as patrician and suave.