I believe that young people wearing hoods, unless they are very young, can be frightening. What are they hiding? Why don't they want to come out into the light with the rest of us? They may be perfectly nice, but the hoods send an uncertain statement.

An honest bookstore would post the following sign above its 'self-help' section: 'For true self-help, please visit our philosophy, literature, history and science sections, find yourself a good book, read it, and think about it.

People send me e-mails saying, "You're a movie critic. You don't know anything about politics." Well, you know what, I'm 60 years old, and I've been interested in politics since I was on my daddy's knee. During the 1948 election, we were praying for Truman. I know a lot about politics.

No good movie is too long and no bad movie is short enough.

We can't help identifying with the protagonist. It's coded in our movie-going DNA.

It is quite possible for the vulgar to be funny, but to succeed, it must rise to a certain genius.

Of all the arts, movies are the most powerful aid to empathy, and good ones make us into better people.