He [Bernardo Bertolucci] has the kind of talent that breaks one's heart: where can it go, what will happen to it? In this country we encourage 'creativity' among the mediocre, but real bursting creativity appalls us. We put it down as undisciplined, as somehow 'too much.' Well, Before the Revolution is too much and that is what is great about it. Art doesn't come in measured quantities: it's got to be too much or it's not enough.

Moviemaking is so male-dominated now that they think they’re being pro-feminine when they have women punching each other out.

Art doesn't come in measured quantities: it's got to be too much or it's not enough.

Protagonists are always loners, almost by definition.

in show business there's not much point in asking yourself if someone really likes you or if he just thinks you can be useful to him, because there's no difference.

A mistake in judgment isn't fatal, but too much anxiety about judgment is.

If you're afraid of movies that excite your senses, you're afraid of movies.