Make the audience wonder what's going on by putting them in the same position as the protagonist.

You know, young actors say all the time, 'Should I use my own life experience?' And my response is, 'What choice do you have?'

When we fear things I think that we wish for them ... every fear hides a wish

I like Bach. I like Randy Newman.

My definition of a 'friend' is, coming from Chicago, someone who says, 'Yeah, sure. You know what? Let's talk about what we can talk about. Let's help each other out. Your politics are none of my business.'

Always do things the least interesting way, the most blunt way, and you make a better movie. This is my experience.

Here's what happens in a play. You get involved in a situation where something is unbalanced. If nothing's unbalanced, there's no reason to have a play. If Hamlet comes home from school, and his dad's not dead and asks him if he's had a good time, it's boring. But if something's unbalanced, it must be returned to order.