Eradicating a religion of kindness is, I think, a terrible thing for the Chinese to attempt.

Actually, I was rock climbing on this film at 7 in the morning. It was quite unique! But in any event, the colour of the leaves disturbed me so we had to work on that. On the other hand, I didn't want to drench it in a kind of depressing tone.

The problem with anger is that it's so consuming. You've got to take it easy on yourself at a certain point.

Alcohol decimated the working class and so many people.

My films really have to be a part of a whole body of work that says something to me.

Watching a Kubrick film is like gazing up at a mountaintop. You look up and wonder, how could anyone have climbed that high?

When I was growing up, I don't remember being told that America was created so that everyone could get rich. I remember being told it was about opportunity and the pursuit of happiness. Not happiness itself, but the pursuit.