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

The crime film is the most honest American film.

I'm from the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school of screenwriting. I just like to preserve what works and ignore what doesn't work.

It's very difficult to lie to yourself about certain things. I'm not necessarily convinced about how information is gathered and I don't think the credence that's given to it is valid.

You obviously can't cast Brad [Pitt] as an everyman guy because he just brings way too much baggage.

Obviously, a power player in a criminal organization doesnt have to persuade anyone. He can just do what he wants.

I imagine that in a closed, hermetic society like the mob, where everybody knows each other, it must be really, really unpleasant to have to kill people. It's the sort of thing you really want to avoid.