The fantasy gives you the courage to feel things.

Americans are not renowned for having a sense of irony.

As a filmmaker, it's important to sit there and feel embarrassed. If you feel embarrassed by something, you cut it.

I'm not a very efficient filmmaker. There's a lot of guys, filmmakers like the Coen Brothers who shoot a whole movie and maybe don't use 12 setups. I'm in awe of people like that; I'm just not that guy.

I'm sure part of the fascination with the film is voyeuristic - that we go to see somebody who's been struck by lightning.

I like test screenings. I like to see a movie with an audience of strangers. I think it tells you a lot.

Jesse James is like a Leonard Cohen song, I wanted to do something that was like a pop song.