The amazing thing about any movie is not whether it's good, but that it got made at all.

Stanley Kubrick was a big inspiration. People accuse me of never using my own material. But when did Kubrick? You look at his films and they are completely unique... completely separate entities.

If you're going to succeed, you've got to be like one of those punch-drunk fighters in the old Warner Bros. boxing pictures: too stupid to fall down, you just keep slugging and stay on your feet.

I spent 20 years of my career primarily being a writer for hire.

I just tell you what a pleasure it is to get back to the kind of filmmaking I used to be allowed to do.

I am fascinated with times past.

I think once you've finished a movie you really have to detach from it so that you can come back and watch it as an audience member.