Top 30 Denis Villeneuve Quotes

When there’s no technical problems, if you did the right casting, and the scene is well written, the actor will give you a strong performance with his intuition right from the start.

When you do casting in Hollywood, it’s always the same question: ‘Who is available?’

I must say, I am a 10,000-times better director because I am in therapy. I’m serious. I can understand more the actors. I can manipulate them more easily.

For me, masculinity is about control, and femininity is more of an embrace, the art of listening. It’s very inspiring to explore the shadows of masculinity and femininity, and the tensions between both, and the place of women in the world right now.

Cinema is an art form that is designed to go across borders. And as a filmmaker, the only way I can direct a movie is when I feel close to my culture.

I was at the premiere of ‘Prisoners,’ and I heard two thousand people scream at the same time. I turned to my wife and said, ‘I love cinema!’ It’s the sharing of emotions together, and it’s collective. It’s one of the last communions we have.

I was raised with James Bond. I love James Bond movies. I would love to do a James Bond movie one day. Action is very cinematic.

I’m a very slow screenwriter. It takes time for me to write a screenplay. Also, I feel it’s not my strength.

I’d love to be able to do a comedy like ‘Dr. Strangelove.’ I’m not a very serious person. Really, I’m very silly.

I think that the world is very complex. I think that the movie is a good way to ask questions. To give answers, you would write a lot of books.

I must say, to my great surprise and pleasure, I deeply loved making movies in the United States because of all the opportunities it gave me to work with people that I admire as artists.

‘Sicario’ is about how the Western world reacts toward problems outside of its borders. Should we become monsters in order to fight the monsters? It’s not about the cartels. The movie could have been set in Africa or the Middle East.

I made ‘Enemy’ to prep myself for ‘Prisoners.’ I had the need to direct something smaller in English before going to Hollywood. That’s the way I sold it to Warner because they asked me if I was berserk to make a movie right before.

Each movie I make has its own heroes, and the two heroes for me in ‘Arrival’ are Amy Adams and Joe Walker, the editor. We worked very, very hard, and it was, by far, the longest editing process.

In Quebec, as women were getting more power, there were the men who agreed with that and the men who were afraid. I think most men are willing to share power with women, but there’s fear. Every time you change something, there’s a friction.

I’ve always been in love with language. My favorite book is a dictionary. I have always loved words.

I was ‘impressed’ by Hugh Jackman for five seconds the first time I met him, but as soon as he opened his mouth and shook my hand, I felt comfortable. He made me feel like I was one of his friends.

I’m coming from a small town in Quebec where, at that time, there was no Internet, and the way to be in contact with movies were those American fan magazines like ‘Fantastic Films’ and ‘Starlog,’ and I still remember the shock, the impact of seeing the first frames, the first pictures coming out of ‘Blade Runner.’

When I work in English, I’d say I don’t see a big difference in my rapport with my team or the actors. When I work in English or French, the music of the language is different, but beyond that music, in the depths, it’s the same.

I’ve been dreaming to do sci-fi since I was 10 years old, and I said ‘no’ to a lot of sequels – I couldn’t say ‘no’ to ‘Blade Runner.’

The reception for ‘Enemy?’ I don’t care. No matter what other people think, it was important for me. I will stand for that movie, even if I stand alone.

Making poetry with a camera – that’s the essence of what I do.

The thing I realized about final cut is it’s the power of the best cut. I didn’t have final cut on ‘Prisoners,’ but what you saw is the best cut. ‘Sicario’ is a directors’ cut. ‘Arrival’ is a directors’ cut.

I think I’m attracted to subjects that I’m afraid of. It’s a way to approach things I am afraid of, things that bring fear in my heart, and try to understand them, try to deal with them. It’s like demons. I try to approach it and understand it… I’m just visiting fears.

I’m among the hardcore fans of ‘Blade Runner.’ ‘Blade Runner’ is one of my favorite movies of all time. It’s a movie that is linked with my love and passion for cinema.

I’m someone who thinks that the world would be a better place if there was a big middle class. I mean, middle class is peace. In a perfect world, everybody would have enough to eat and we’d be living in security. It’s obvious. I’m very happy to pay my taxes and all that. I would say I’m more of a Social Democrat.

I was saying to myself that I would love to try it once, just one time, to know what it’s like to make a movie in Hollywood. I was so curious because most of my favorite directors were there. There’s a history; there’s a way of working.

The truth is, I’m someone coming from a spoiled society – the worst thing we deal with in Canada is winter.

I love, in movies, when you feel and you understand the past of the character without it being said or having a flashback or something that explains. I think, in ‘Prisoners,’ we need to understand that Loki’s character’s past was not first class. He was not the first in his class.

I’m learning more and more to share creativity with the crew and actors. A film crew is more powerful if you listen to them, but it does make my job more tough because I have to listen.