I think movies do play a valuable role in turning people on to the act of reading. I think that phenomenon just creates readers. At first they're going to love 'Harry Potter ' or they may love 'The Hunger Games ' but after that they're going to love the act of reading and wonder 'What else can I read?'

Obviously I love 'The Godfather' movies. I think they're phenomenal.

There's always an imbalance with actors and actresses in the industry. And I think because there are just fewer movies overall being made it's that trickle down effect.

But I don't think there has ever been anything written on the nature of violent man as deep and as thorough as Shakespeare's Titus. I think it puts all modern movies and modern exploitations of violence to shame.

I think movies are a director's medium in the end. Theater is the actor's medium. Theater is fast and enjoyable and truly rewarding. I believe in great live performance.

I don't think Hollywood was trying to do anything with me. In fact they lost interest pretty quick. I think I got lucky briefly in the '90s and it just so happened that those movies were the opportunities that came my way. Then it just kind of stopped.

I don't think of it as a competition - which might surprise you given the way movies are reported constantly.

And anyway it's only movies. to stop me I think they'll ahve to shoot me in the head.

I didn't know this about myself but when 'Pirates of the Caribbean' came out I realised that I didn't enjoy a huge amount of recognition. I didn't react to it well but I think life is about finding out who you are and what you like. So I started doing independent movies and art-house films instead.

I made about 28 movies and I think about five of them were good.

I think more than writers the major influences on me have been European movies jazz and Abstract Expressionism.

I think there's an instinct to make grotesque horror films that are purely carnal like the 'Saw' movies.

The way Hollywood portrays mothers - you're either all good and saint-like or you're all bad. And I think the real honesty of motherhood is not given a voice in movies. I miss that as an audience member.

I'll work with a director if I think I'm going to get into a comfortable situation and if it's someone I respect and who respects me even if they're not so well known. Movies are hard to make and you have to work toward a common ethic and do your best.

I don't make movies because I think audiences will want to go see them.

I've found that if you wear a beret people think you're either a cabdriver or a producer of dirty movies.

What I liked about American movies when I was a kid was that they're sort of larger than life and I think I'm still suffering from that reaction.

I'm really proud of 'Moneyball.' To me it's about feeling pride in a movie I made. I think when I'm an old man I'll be able to show it to my grandkids with pride. That's all I can really go for: making movies to please me.

Look at the same time that I don't want to be a celebrity I understand that when you make movies you put yourself out in the public eye. I'd be a baby and a fool to be like 'Why are there cameras taking pictures of me?' when I'm on a billboard for a movie. I think that's a very absurd concept.

I think our culture has gotten so skewed. People assume that because you're an actor you want to write a book to exploit your celebrity but my celebrity is only a byproduct of me making movies. I have no intention of being a celebrity.

I think everyone who makes movies should be forced to do television. Because you have to finish. You have to get it done and there are a lot of decisions made just for the sake of making decisions. You do something because it's efficient and because it gets the story told and it connects to the audience.

In anything I've ever written all the characters sound like me which I don't think is a bad thing. It makes sense. But I had always admired filmmakers who made movies that didn't sound like them at all.

People go to the movies to watch a film and all they're thinking about is the actress's cellulite they saw in a magazine.

I think America becomes more disgruntled by going to the movies and having an endlessly good time at them.