You see, I always divide people into two groups. Those who live by what they know to be a lie, and those who live by what they believe, falsely, to be the truth.

If I had to give a definition of capitalism I would say: the process whereby American girls turn into American women.

It's great to get out of the study and work with real living and breathing people.

Since my adaptation of Ian McEwan's 'Atonement,' I get sent a lot of novels that people think will work as movies. So every now and then I make a point of sitting down and reading a couple of them.

I have always thought of sophistication as rather a feeble substitute for decadence.

I love films. If I'd known how to get into or do it from the word go, I would have done that.

I like L.A., but I think whats changed is that the kinds of films I do, the mid-range dramatic film, has become an endangered species.