What I love about writing is the contradictions we all embody as human beings.

I like to really respect the audience and let them come through on answers.

The wrong one will start saying things like "withdraw with honor." We've heard phrases like that before, and they led to thousands and thousands of deaths. Democrats always want to look tough.

There are very few guys like me. I make a lot of money. I didn't always.

You don't do pictures because the audience is ready for them. You do them because there's something gnawing at you, something inside.

Usually the characters are where I start. Then I continually ask myself, 'What's the worst thing that could happen to this character?'

If you make a film and then two and a half, three years later, suddenly the country's changed and you look like you just happened to hit it. I actually like being contrarian. I would have preferred to come out three years ago when everyone was disagreeing with me. But hopefully it asks a lot of questions about our responsibility in sending young men and women to war, especially a war that's so complex, where there's no right answer, where they're forced with impossible decisions every day.