Somewhat dramatic things happen, and you don't even always notice them — that's what life is.

In the moment of making films, I want to share my observations of life, not of other films.

I think if you watch most of my films with the sound off, you could still tell what's going on.

Hollywood films have become a cesspool of formula and it's up to us to try to change it... I feel like a preacher! But it's really true. I feel personally responsible for the future of American cinema. Me personally.

In a general sense, to convert any short story, novel, play, or opera into a movie, you have to re-rig it. Even though they're all narratives over time, they're very different forms.

The worst thing for people to say about your movies is, "Yeah, it was pretty good, but it was too damn long.".

I'm considered to some degree a successful director working in Hollywood, making films my way but using studio financing. But with almost every single one, I get praised up the wazoo by people who never would have financed the films. It's: "Gee, this movie is so new and different - what do you want to do next?" "This." "Oh, that's too new and different."