I thought, "If I could bring these characters [Wonder Boys] to life and lead the audience to react the same way I did, this could be a really special picture." Then I read Michael's [Chabon] novel and got even more enthusiastic about it.

As ridiculous as it is for anybody who knows how movies are made, there were people who actually wrote in reviews that this picture [Bad Influence] had been put out to capitalize on the scandal. Which, of course, would have been impossible.

I had always wanted to tell a story that was set in Los Angeles in the '50s, because that's where I grew up, and it was the city of my childhood memories.

I love suspense movies, because in a sense they're the most dreamlike of any genre, and I'm sure I'll make another one.

What I try to do is give each actor an environment in which they can do their best work.

I'm still a great movie fan, and I guess that's the answer to your question.

A day doesn't go by when I don't get a compliment on L.A. Confidential, for example.