Shaping it is something I would expect to do together with a writer, because that's a director's job.

A movie isn't a political movement, a party or even an article. It's just a film. At best it can add its voice to public outrage.

Maybe if we tell the truth about the past, we can tell the truth about the present.

The duty of a film director is to focus more on the soul of the spectator.

About Thatcher's death: Let's privatise her funeral. Put it out on competetive tender and accept the cheapest bid. That's what she would have wanted.

The most depressing thing is the political slogan: there is no alternative. But there is.

A film is one small voice among other large ones. The film is a tiny part of the discourse. You do what you can but under no illusions of what a film can do.

One lesson to learn is that the press and the broadcasters are not neutral. And it seems we have to learn it each time there is a dispute: they are actually committed to one side.

You'll get unsociable people whatever the nationality, colour, race or creed. I guess the British abroad have probably got the worst record of anyone.

A Relationship Should Come With An ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK Sign.

You want to be competent? she thought. You want to learn to be in control of what goes on around you, rather than just being pushed around? Then you’ll have to learn to deal with failure.

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the aeroplane takes off against the wind, not with it.

I think I am the greatest fighter in any class.

On our first tour we just went full on, drinking too much and smoking too much before the shows. But it's a learning curve. We now know our limits.

My father was very much a handy person round the house, and I learnt a lot of carpentry from him.

I hope the new health care exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act will provide some help.

Fancy algorithms are slow when N is small, and N is usually small.

I don't like to do too much psychological research because it might turn a character into a patchwork.

There was a loophole in the law that said if I was working, I could be in the clubs as long as I didn't drink alcohol and had someone with me.