I liked to work in a shop down in the basement and invent things and build gadgets.

In America, even the critics - which is a pity - tend to genre-ize things. They have a hard time when genres get mixed. They want to categorize things. That's why I love Wes Anderson's films and the Coen Brothers, because you don't know what you're going to get, and very often you get something that you don't expect and that's just what a genre's not supposed to do.

The stuff that I got in trouble for, the casting for The Godfather or the flag scene in Patton, was the stuff that was remembered, and was considered the good work.

I always think upon Lee Strasberg with warmth, and reviewing his wisdom is a pleasure.

When that happens - when risk is taken and the filmmakers dive into the subject matter without a parachute - very often what you get it something with those qualities that make it age well with the public.

I don't think there's any artist of any value who doesn't doubt what they're doing.

There's nothing creative about living within your means.