I like Bach. I like Randy Newman.

Films have degenerated to their original operation as carnival amusement - they offer not drama but thrills.

The Oscars demonstrate the will of the people to control and judge those they have elected to stand above them (much, perhaps, as in bygone days, an election celebrated the same).

Every scene should be able to answer three questions: "Who wants what from whom? What happens if they don't get it? Why now?"

When the three branches of government have failed to represent the citizenry and the mass of the media has failed to represent the citizenry, then the citizenry better represent the citizenry.

Forget narrative, backstory, characterisation, exposition, all of that. Just make the audience want to know what happens next.

It is the writer’s job to make the play interesting. It is the actor’s job to make the performance truthful.

Opportunity may knock, but it seldom nags.

We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.

People may or may not say what they mean... but they always say something designed to get what they want.

Being a writer in Hollywood is like going to Hitler's Eagle Nest with a great idea for a bar mitzvah.

If an artist wants to be original, he should not look to art for inspiration, for art seeks its model in life, not art—and only life is rich enough to simulate originality.

I love 'Guitar Hero,' and I think it's a part of pop culture.

German and Spanish are accessible to foreigners: English is not accessible even to Englishmen.

Always turn your wheel in the direction of the skid.

Movie offers are out there for me, I just don't hear them yet.

I'm closer to Bob Newhart than Rodney Dangerfield.

It isn't that we do what we want. It's that we're allowed to want at all.

I love Cate Blanchett: she takes risks, but is still refind.

I love thee, I love thee with a love that shall not die. Till the sun grows cold and the stars grow old.