The novel succeeds on terms exclusive to literature. A good film succeeds on terms exclusive to the cinema. That's why so many bad novels can become good movies, like 'Jaws' or 'The Godfather.'
Tags: literature, cinema, bad, good

Other Quotes by "Alexander Payne"

They say you can do honest, sincere work for decades, but you're given in general a 10-year period when what you do touches the zeitgeist - when you're relevant. And I'm aware of that, and I don't want my time to go by.
Tags: go, time, you, work
I like voice-over in films, and most of my films have been voice-over films.
Tags: films, been, most, like
Life mixes tones all the time.
Tags: time, life
I think cynicism lasts. Sentimentality ages, dates quickly.
Tags: lasts, cynicism, i-think, think
The most heinous shift in American films is that they reinforce good things like 'couples' and 'relationships.'
Tags: things, like, good-things, good
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