We have an uncanny ability to make birds do what we want them to do. In Blood Simple there's a shot from the bumper of a car and it's going up this road and a huge flock of birds takes…

Quote by Joel Coen

Topics: Joel Coen Quotes

I guess everything having to do with your background has some influence on how you...

I guess everything having to do with your background has some influence on how you...

Sometimes, in certain stories, I think we know at the outset essentially what the tone...

Sometimes, in certain stories, I think we know at the outset essentially what the tone...

The characters are the result of two things-first, we elaborate them into fairly well-defined people...

The characters are the result of two things-first, we elaborate them into fairly well-defined people...

If the material is challenging, it forces you to challenge yourself when handling it.

If the material is challenging, it forces you to challenge yourself when handling it.

Barton Fink got written very quickly, in about three weeks. I don't know what that...

Barton Fink got written very quickly, in about three weeks. I don't know what that...

You're doing it to make the character as specific as possible, so that it's a...

You're doing it to make the character as specific as possible, so that it's a...

We create monsters and then we can't control them.

We create monsters and then we can't control them.

These things are hard to pin down. We work on a script a bit, then...

These things are hard to pin down. We work on a script a bit, then...

When you do a writing job for a studio, one of the things you want...

When you do a writing job for a studio, one of the things you want...

It's almost like a genre rule: Don't Open The Box.

It's almost like a genre rule: Don't Open The Box.

I think when you watch the dailies, the film that you shoot every day, you're...

I think when you watch the dailies, the film that you shoot every day, you're...

I've never really understood that. It's a funny thing; people sometimes accuse us of condescending...

I've never really understood that. It's a funny thing; people sometimes accuse us of condescending...

And when you see it the first time you put the film together, the roughest...

And when you see it the first time you put the film together, the roughest...

The point at which we worked with some of these actors, they weren't really stars...

The point at which we worked with some of these actors, they weren't really stars...

We don't have any rules about how we depict violence, or how much violence is...

We don't have any rules about how we depict violence, or how much violence is...

Other kinds of movie stars, it's a different thing, they bring their persona to the...

Other kinds of movie stars, it's a different thing, they bring their persona to the...

It's a funny thing because you look at the careers of other filmmakers, and you...

It's a funny thing because you look at the careers of other filmmakers, and you...

People that have been interested in our work for awhile... those are the last people...

People that have been interested in our work for awhile... those are the last people...

Some people come out going, I don't get it. And I don't quite know what...

Some people come out going, I don't get it. And I don't quite know what...

Usually, I don't want to sit down and listen to the director gas on about...

Usually, I don't want to sit down and listen to the director gas on about...