Encountering a real place enhances the performances of actors in subtle ways and changes the spiritual texture of the film.
— Michael Cimino
I have no personal life.
Does anyone remember who shot Kubrick's movies? Do you remember who shot David Lean's movies? No one remembers who shot 'Dr. Strangelove' or 'Barry Lyndon.'
I would never suggest that the geography or visual environment of the film is more important than what's going on with the people, but it's a major factor in getting the right tone. Certainly, it influences the actors tremendously.
I wish I was making movies back in the days when John Ford made movies and you were a director under contract to a studio. John Ford had years when he made three movies in a year.
All one has to do is look at old footage of the firebombing of Dresden during World War II and think of the people beneath those bombs. It's horrific.
If you can't stop somebody from working and making movies that you hate, what's the next best thing? Destroy them personally.
Making movies is controlled anarchy, chaos.
Journalism is not writing.
If you don't get it right, what's the point?
I cut 'Deer Hunter' myself.
Would you ask Picasso to explain 'Guernica?' Would you ask Nabokov to explain 'Lolita?' Would you ask Tolstoy about 'War and Peace?' No, you wouldn't dare.
It's very important to follow your instincts because, beyond what you know exists or what you're told exists in a given area, your intuition plays a big part in finding something special.
Movie-making ain't for sissies.
There's nothing good that comes out of war. It's simply hell on earth, and people survive, and people don't.
There have been so many false things written about me by people who don't know me.
I'm a frustrated would-be architect who stumbled into the would-be business of making movies.
A film reflects who you are as a building reflects the soul of its architect. I think what you feel and what you think and what you are is what the film is. It's not for me to talk about.
They've said everything about me that they could: racist, Marxist, rightist, homophobic, sex change - I don't know what else they could come up with.
I have no interest in making a 'Vietnam' film, no interest in making a direct political statement.
I love to scout locations.
I think 'American Sniper' is anti-war. It demonstrates the agony of the decision-making that goes on.
Because people don't see me around a lot, I'm the source of all sorts of rumour.
I don't believe in defeat.
I am not a preacher; I'm a reacher.
