But it's just that the whole country is making generally lousy films these days and has been for quite a while. That's the big problem that we all have to think about.

What is filmmaking but groping in the dark?

If you were falling in love and you could go back in time and relive a day and see the banal things you did that you'd forgotten about, you'd weep, looking at that day.

I like actors who, when you see them on screen, you sense a person, not just an actor.

I think a badly crafted, great idea for a new film with a ton of spelling mistakes is just 100 times better than a well-crafted stale script.

There is an audience out there for literate films - slower, more observant, more human films, and they deserve to be made.

You just never know when you're living in a golden age.

The biggest fear I have is to die with regrets, and of course that will come true.

A pitfall of making a comedy with a studio-and it's also an American cultural thing-is that I get tired of being encouraged to go always for laughs.

I think cynicism lasts. Sentimentality ages, dates quickly.

If you have your movies so that everyone understands everything, I think that's probably not a very good movie.

Look, you don’t know what makes me tick, so stop assuming you do.

No non-poetic account of reality can be complete.

I make movies in order to make things understood, not to be shocking.

You have the ability, now apply yourself.

I'll instinctively know that I identify with a character.

To deny being lovers in order to gain something.That can result in a much worse situation than one can imagine.

I want to accomplish my work and fulfill my dreams, and do something with my life, and I hope I'll be able to accomplish it. It's very much work, but I like it.

Nothing can permanently please, which doesn't contain in itself the reason why it is so, and not otherwise.

To get along with me, don't increase my tension.

A true friend is someone you can disagree with and still remain friends. For if not, they weren't true friends in the first place.