It's the sort of subject that always interests me: jealousy and the language of suspicion and guilt. I think it interests people.

I think you get better at staring into space. Especially living in the South of France.

Their every instinct - and I have to say this is without exception - is to iron out the bumps, and It's always the bumps that are the most interesting stuff.

I wanted to make a movie about the arbitrary nature of love.

Always, with any movie that I do, I have a book of ideas that I've heard, or seen, or whatever, and I always try to incorporate it in the film.

The danger is that if you have a bunch of ideas that you forget to use.

The challenge, really, on any new film is to try to avoid that and achieve a few moments that aren't cliche.

Somebody said that I'm a bit like a sponge, grabbing things here and there, soaking stuff up. [As a director] you have to be, really.

Well, I think just the fact that you are making your first film is a huge step.

Well, Brief Encounter is certainly one of my top five favorites of all time. I looked at Brief Encounter very closely, to be honest.

I've always been interested in films where you can identify with the actors. Where you can be in their shoes and therefore be more involved if they're people that you recognize.

When lovers kiss on the cheeks, it is because they are searching, feeling for one another's lips. Lovers are made by a kiss.

Accept nothing. Challenge everything.

To have a songwriter that wrote so specifically what I felt to be true... I've never been much of an actor either. If something is real for me, then I can do it.

Life's temporary for a reason, it gets boring after awhile.

Free trade is not based on utility but on justice.

People ask me how come you've been around so long. Well, it's through playing the part of Mr Average Joe American.

Maybe if you're playing in London or America, you don't feel that pressure quite as much.

My mother is very short - four-eleven. She could walk under tables and never hit her head.

If you know how rich you are, you are not a billionaire.