Comedy is a wonderful device for distance that allows us to look at what we're talking about with some degree of distance and hopefully with a bit more perspective and honesty. With many exceptions, a movie with no jokes is far less appealing to me. Alexander Payne More Quotes by Alexander Payne More Quotes From Alexander Payne You begin a film more with questions than with direct intentions. It's more of an exploration and discovery. Alexander Payne more questions you discovery There's a bizarre insistence on how a story should be. 'The protagonist must be sympathetic!' they say. Whatever that means. I never engage in that discussion. I never use that word, 'sympathetic.' I just know 'interesting.' Alexander Payne they-say story never know If you're trying to recreate life, the life that you best know is the one you grew up with. Alexander Payne best know you life