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."

Acting is a lot easier than people think it is.

When you're a houseguest and you leave, it's nice to straighten something up or send your hosts a useful gift. And when you leave the planet, it's nice to have made a positive contribution.

I don't feel despair because I am able to make the films I want to make, and that gives me hope.

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

I think cynicism lasts. Sentimentality ages, dates quickly.

Even if we die at 100, we're still dying young. I want at least 700 years. There's a lot of travelling and books to read and movies to see. I'm not going to squeeze it all in in 85 years.