Steve Carell might be best known for his pitch-perfect portrayal of the lovable yet unhinged Michael Scott but the man has many other feats under his belt. Whether it’s Crazy, Stupid, Love, or The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Steve Carell has proven time and time again that he can be much more than just Michael Scott. Not that we have any complaints about his time as the World’s Best Boss.
In 2015, Steve Carell starred in the thriller-comedy film, The Big Short, along with Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, and Ryan Gosling. Now that’s a star cast that can make fans flock to the theatres! Steve Carell plays the role of Mark Baum, FrontPoint Partners’ leader. Here’s what he had to say about his character.
Steve Carell Talks about Mark Baum’s Ethical Dilemma
The Big Short follows three loosely connected stories leading up to the infamous 2007 housing market crash. Described as the worldwide economic crisis that kickstarted the Great Recession (2007-2009), the market crash was considered to be the worst since 1929’s Wall Street crash.
Steve Carell’s character, Mark Baum, was based on Steve Eisman, the IRL fund manager of FrontPoint Partners. In an interview with ScreenRant, Carell opened up about his character and the ethical dilemma he was stuck in.
Carell understood the weight on the man’s shoulders and the conflict that comes along with knowing right and wrong.
He has an ethical dilemma certainly, because he’s doing his job, you know. He’s betting against something which he feels is going to fail, but what is potentially going to fail is ultimately the nation’s economy and the banking system itself…
…So in meeting the real guy, I believe he saw himself as a hero and someone who was sort of a solitary figure. He had all this weight on his shoulders and he was trying to right a wrong. But at the same time, like you said, it’s conflicted because he stands to make a fortune by doing this, and to the ill effect of millions of people.
The Big Short was a hit amongst both critics and fans with an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer and 88% on the Popcornmeter. On a budget of $28 million, the film made a whopping $132 million at the box office (via The Numbers) and even won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
What Did Steve Eisman Say about Steve Carell’s Portrayal?
In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Eisman stated that he thoroughly believes that something like a financial crisis like the 2007 crash cannot happen in this day and age. Why?
Well, he believes that the “regulators learned the hard way they were wrong, and they’ve done a lot to correct a lot of the problems.” In his expert opinion, the banking system has never been as safe as it is today.
Coming to the film itself, Eisman stated that The Big Short was a good movie. However, Carell’s portrayal of him was not a hundred percent accurate. Eisman simply isn’t as grim in real life as shown in the film.
He stated,
I think it’s a very good movie. And as far as his portrayal of me, it’s not 100%. What I would say is: Eliminate my sense of humor and make me angry all the time, and that’s the portrayal. It’s accurate enough, but it’s not really me.
Still, Carell was praised for his performance in the film, proving that he can be much more than Michael Scott. Versatility runs in his veins!
The Big Short is available to watch on Paramount+.
