Author

The studio is spending great amounts of money, and they want some insurance they will get money back. They go for the middle of the road, broad in appeal. It's restrictive. It's a constant struggle, but if you give in, you're just making cottage cheese, and that's the end of it.

From Brian Helgeland

I always think any circumstances can be funny. Not that I'm irresponsible, but when things go wrong, I always come up with a joke or think of something funny to say.

From Brian Helgeland

Working on an adaptation is not as satisfying, because it's not your original work: you're interpreting. With 'L.A. Confidential,' I loved the book. In that case, I felt I was guardian of the work, staying as true to the novel as I could. I've since met the novelist, and he loves the movie and the script.

From Brian Helgeland

As much as I love period movies and especially more swashbuckling movies, I think that sometimes they tend to be, umm... it's hard for the audience to relate to them.

From Brian Helgeland

It's such an egotistical thing to be able to just stand there and say, 'Action!' It's like being a little mini-god.

From Brian Helgeland

I think 'Cool Hand Luke' was probably the first movie in which I was aware of the writing as its own separate thing. It was that speech when the guy reads Paul Newman the riot act. The speech about going in the box.

From Brian Helgeland

I don't really write with living actors in mind. I guess I write for dead actors. I'll think of like, you know, Burt Lancaster would be good in this part, and so on. With 'L.A. Confidential,' it was like, 'Wouldn't it be cool if Dean Martin played the Kevin Spacey part?'

From Brian Helgeland

If you write an original, it's like you went in and dug a well, and you hit oil. But an adaptation, it's like the oil well's on fire, and they bring you in to put the fire out and get it working again - or something like that.

From Brian Helgeland

You can write anything you want on paper, like blowing up the bridge on the River Kwai, but when you actually have to do that as a director, it's not the same. Ninety percent of directing is not creative - it's putting the theoretical into the practical world.

From Brian Helgeland

It's as boring to see a completely evil villain as it is to see a completely good guy.

From Brian Helgeland

Brian Helgeland

Notable Quotes

Authors with Similar Views

Ang Lee

Peter Jackson

Whit Stillman

Charles S. Dutton

Christopher Guest

Authors with Opposing Views

Whit Stillman

Andie MacDowell

Anthony Minghella

Bo Bennett

D. A. Pennebaker