A movie star seemed simply like the nearest equivalent we've got, we who live blessedly free of a monarchy, to that sense of the human form exalted, the life made fabulous simply by who and what the person is.
– Michael Cunningham
Before there was any talk of a movie, people would sometimes ask me what actors I would imagine playing these characters. And the only thing I could ever say is: I have such a clear idea of these characters that they'd have to play themselves.
– Michael Cunningham
If anything, I thought - and this view was shared by my publisher - that The Hours was going to be my arty little book and sell maybe a few thousand copies, and march with whatever dignity it could muster to the remainders tables.
– Michael Cunningham
If extraterrestrials suddenly appear before us and say, Give us one reason why we shouldn't destroy the earth, I would say, We're trying to make something beautiful! We fail more often than we succeed.
– Michael Cunningham
If you've really loved a book, or a movie for that matter, really loved it, what you want is that same book again, but as if you've never read it. And when you get something unfamiliar, you feel betrayed.
– Michael Cunningham
The only difference was one of them was trying to make a perfect cake and one of them was trying to write a great book. But if we remove that from the equation, it's the same impulse and they are equally entitled to their ecstasies and their despair.
– Michael Cunningham
On a summer night it can be lovely to sit around outside with friends after dinner and, yes, read poetry to each other. Keats and Yeats will never let you down, but it's differently exciting to read the work of poets who are still walking around out there.
– Michael Cunningham
I just don't feel much interested in the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
– Michael Cunningham
I have no useful theories about love and marriage.