I always say to anybody who's going over to America for the first time, 'Whatever you do, go and see a popular mainstream film with a big audience.' Because people shout out. You never get that in Britain. Everybody's so quiet, scared to laugh. It's like being in church.

I grew up in a city, I'm a city person - I go on holiday and I'm bored.

I made this film 'The Beach,' which didn't take place in a city, and it didn't really suit me.

If the American taxpayer knew how much they paid per person to put Neil Armstrong on the moon they would never have paid it. It was hidden from them deliberately because the costs were astronomical.

Directing is a mixture of compromise and perfectionism. When you lose the judgment of which is more important at any particular moment, you're time is over. They find you out and send you packing.

I love huge movies. Not sure I am the guy to make them, but you can rely on me being there watching them.

I tend to score with songs from Western pop music.