Like any kind of writing, there are good days and frustrating days. But even frustrating days can be rewarding sometimes.

Critics are usually kinder to cheaper movies than to those they perceive to be big Hollywood releases. They cut you a lot more slack if you spend less money, which makes no sense.

We tend to do period stuff because it helps make it one step removed from boring everyday reality.

The mountain music... is compelling music in its own right, harking back to a time when music was a part of everyday life and not something performed by celebrities.

It's just an impulse, in some actors. You want to make the audience like you. That's the aim of the exercise.

I was always interested in movies the way everyone is interested. That is, I liked to go to the movies

There aren't reasons why you like this song or this piece of music, or don't like it. It's just, it's either right or wrong, you know?

When the movie's done, you talk about either the score or source music over a particular scene, what might work. You just throw a piece of music over the scene, and we both listen to it.

Barton Fink is just too self-important as an artist to get much sympathy.

The difference between politics and religion is that the first makes it legal to hate, and makes the love of the second illegal.

I'm inspired by many of my friends, colleagues, and the extraordinary people I've been fortunate enough to meet along the way.

Rise above oneself and grasp the world.

The point about melody and beat and lyric is that they exist to engage you in a very particular way. They want to occupy your attention.

With a dog, people are not disciplined. They think that by spoiling a dog the dog is going to love them more. But the dog misbehaves more because they give affection at the wrong time.

There is nothing that sharpens a man's senses so acutely as to know that bitter and determined enemies are in pursuit of him night and day.

Abolitionists were men of sharp angles. Organizing them was like binding crooked sticks in a bundle.

Everyone wants to do what the great ones do; but very few are willing to do what they did to become great

I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm.

When I was 14, I was the oldest I ever was. I've been getting younger ever since.