I was nearly a teen-ager before I stopped assuming that everyone I met was Jewish.

I'm always struck when I go somewhere I've never been before, especially if it's in my home town, by just how different the atmosphere can be, and how disorienting it can be - especially if there's any kind of trouble.

I feel like if you can describe something fully and accurately, then people will be able to see it themselves - they don't need be told what to.

When you have people like Casey [Affleck] and Michelle Williams and they want to do more takes you don't say, "Sorry, that's it." And I also don't like to say, "It's fine, it's great." Unless it's clearly there.

I grew up going to the movies, not watching them on television, so I'm still a bit resistant to TV as a medium.

I take it as a sign of intimacy and friendship when you feel comfortable enough with someone to have a little rough and tumble.

I trust my judgment when I think it's boring, dull, tepid and not interesting. That's important to listen to. And the same on the set. That's a little easier because you can see it in front of you and you can just see how great they are and you know you have something wonderful when they do something wonderful.