With Nymphomaniac, Vol. 2 about to open, I thought I’d revisit the Shia LaBoeuf press conference walkout moment at the Berlin Film Festival. (His departing statement: “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much.”) LaBeouf’s pronunciation of “seagulls” is curious — he calls them “siegels” as if he’s describing a large family related to Ben Siegel. The second syllable of “seagull” rhymes with “dull.” The question that prompted his walkout came from Tatiana Spinu of Columbia’s W radio.
