It suits him because way back many years ago when Nikita Mikhalkov, the great Russian director, came, I said, "I want you to meet somebody." So I get Billy Bob from Malvern, Arkansas and Nikita Mikhalkov from Moscow. It's just two big talents meet. We sat for two or three hours and talked. It was great. He's the real deal, this guy.

Although it wasn't that easy to do, it was wonderful working with John Wayne.

You just can't take a crash course to be a tango dancer in a movie.

Some people say, 'Do you have any theories on acting?' And I say, well maybe: I think you can start with zero and end with zero. You don't have to go anywhere, you don't have to go for the result.

I try not to look for messages in films.

If you don't have heroes in the beginning, you don't grow.

Hollywood is still the mecca for good or bad, but it isn't the beginning or end for filmmaking.