UNITED KINGDOM: Jeremy Irons and Paul Bettany promote financial thriller "Margin Call" in London

Record ID: 220724

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Jeremy Irons and Paul Bettany promote financial thriller "Margin Call" in London
  • Date: 10th January 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 9, 2011) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) 'MARGIN CALL' MOVIE POSTERS ACTORS PAUL BETTANY AND JEREMY IRONS TALKING WHILE HAVING PICTURES TAKEN IRONS INTERVIEWED BY TV CREW / BETTANY SITTING ON CHAIR INTERVIEWED BY PRINT JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAUL BETTANY, ACTOR, SAYING: "I know some people that work in the finance industry and they who have seen the film say it's the most realistic version that they have seen of their world. They recognise their world much more in this movie than they have in others. So that's I mean -- that's flattering." VARIOUS OF BETTANY HAVING PICTURES TAKEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAUL BETTANY, ACTOR, SAYING: "One of the sort of confounding things is when you meet these people and they're just people and you know they're human and they have wives and children and mortgages and they're not twisted and evil and -- that's confounding but also you know edifying I think you know -- to meet them because it's a systemic problem -- it's churlish to ask an investment banker not to be greedy. That's his job but there probably should be more regulation." IRONS POSING WITH WIFE SINÉAD CUSACK FOR PICTURES IRONS INTERVIEWED BY TV CREW (SOUNDBITE) (English) JEREMY IRONS, ACTOR, SAYING: "(I am) concerned about what is happening but I personally do nothing more about it than talk about it. So I don't think I am really politically active. I think I'm an actor, I'm a storyteller and I think Margin Call is a story that needed telling." BETTANY INTERVIEWED BY TV CREW (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAUL BETTANY, ACTOR, SAYING: "It usually does. I do think it's interesting this film was is about the crash of 2008 and it seems just as appropriate today as it was for that time and I mean, like I say I'm a blonde actor I shouldn't be making predictions. I think that our culture is, you know, we tend to sort of define how successful our life is by our ability to purchase things and not how happy we are in our lives and that's a sort of that's a sad state of affairs." BETTANY AND IRONS SIGNING MARGIN CALL MOVIE POSTER VARIOUS OF MOVIE POSTER SHOWING BETTANY'S SIGNATURE OF CO-STAR KEVIN SPACEY
  • Embargoed: 25th January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom, United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA9TGZP9YJZVF5XNAM0W1MT6LRR
  • Story Text: With the financial turmoil of 2008 still a vivid memory for many and the European debt crisis continuing, Wall Street seems to have provided plenty of inspiration for the thriller genre.
    Director J.C. Chandor's drama "Margin Call" is the latest addition, which follows the players at one investment firm over a course of 24 hours as they are trying to manage the unfolding financial crisis.
    With an ensemble cast that is made up of Hollywood heavyweights including Demi Moore, Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci and Simon Baker the film enjoyed a successful opening in the U.S., grossing more than 10 million U.S. dollars (USD) worldwide so far.
    Actors Jeremy Irons, who plays the firm's CEO, and Paul Bettany, who plays a senior salesman called Will Emerson, attended the film's UK premiere in London on Monday (January 9) ahead of its nation-wide opening (January 13).
    The film has mainly received positive reviews so far and actor Bettany said bankers describe the portrayal of their work life as authentic.
    "I know some people that work in the finance industry and they who have seen the film say it's the most realistic version that they have seen of their world. They recognise their world much more in this movie than they have in others", he said adding that he felt "flattered."
    While "Margin Call" is centred around the complex financial collapse, the film attempts to portray the human side of those working at the firm.
    "One of the sort of confounding things is when you meet these people and they're just people," Bettany explained who talked to some traders as part of his preparation for the role.
    "They're human and they have wives and children and mortgages and they're not twisted and evil and -- that's confounding but also you know edifying I think," he added.
    Bettany said banks needed tighter regulation.
    "It's a systemic problem -- it's churlish to ask an investment banker not to be greedy. That's his job but there probably should be more regulation."
    Fellow actor Jeremy Irons said while he has never been very outspoken about the issue, he too was worried.
    "(I am) concerned about what is happening but I personally do nothing more about it than talk about it. So I don't think I am really politically active. I think I'm an actor, I'm a storyteller and I think Margin Call is a story that needed telling," the actor said.
    As the Occupy movements in New York and London continue, the film, which has been in the making since 2009, still feels timely and relevant.
    "I do think it's interesting this film ... is about the crash of 2008 and it seems just as appropriate today as it was for that time," Bettany suggested.
    "I think that our culture is you know we tend to sort of define how successful our life is by our ability to purchase things and not how happy we are in our lives and that's a sort of that's a sad state of affairs."
    Once finished with his talk on the serious subject matter, Bettany later proved that there is always room left for showing some humour. Before disappearing into the theatre the actor decided to use the names of his "Margin Call" co-stars Kevin Spacey and Stanley Tucci when signing a movie poster in the cinema foyer.
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