I think cynicism lasts. Sentimentality ages, dates quickly.

If you're not making epic, archetypal films on some level, I think you're wasting a great potential of cinema.

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."

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

I definitely in filmmaking more and more find writing and directing a means to harvest material for editing. It's all about editing.

I still have energy and some degree of youth, which is what a filmmaker needs.

The actors are the greatest executors of tone in a film. They're the most important cinematic component.