It was this raging, painful message calling out the cops about a crime, the title came from the concept and the concept came from that image, which stayed in my mind for years. What kind of pain would lead someone to do that ? It takes a lot of guts -- and anger.

Martin McDonagh

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There have to be moments when you glimpse something decent, something life-affirming even in the most twisted character. That's where the real art lies. See, I always suspect characters who are painted as lovely, decent human beings. I would always question where the darkness lies.

Martin McDonagh

real lying art

I suppose I walk that line between comedy and cruelty because I think one illuminates the other. We're all cruel, aren't we? We are all extreme in one way or another at times and that's what drama, since the Greeks, has dealt with. I hope the overall view isn't just that though, or I've failed in my writing. There have to be moments when you glimpse something decent, something life-affirming even in the most twisted character. That's where the real art lies.

Martin McDonagh

real drama art

Though it may not seem like it, I never try to write about a place, per se; it's always, first and last, about story. Story is everything. Story and a bit of attitude.

Martin McDonagh

writing attitude trying

I hope there's some kind of morality in all my work.

Martin McDonagh

morality kind

If you've got time to waste, you might as well waste it listening to people.

Martin McDonagh

crafts listening people

I don't feel I have to defend myself for being English or for being Irish, because, in a way, I don't feel either. And, in another way, of course, I'm both.

Martin McDonagh

being-irish feels way

I don't even subscribe to writer's block being a truthful thing. I've had writer's laziness quite often. But I think it's all about sitting down and facing down the blank page and doing it, and I've always been ok at that.

Martin McDonagh

sitting-down block thinking

It isn't about being or not being dead, it's about what you leave behind

Martin McDonagh

behinds

When you've got good actors, they're going to come up with good stuff, but you're never quite sure how the dynamics are going to work between them.

Martin McDonagh

dynamics actors stuff

It's the way that I think about the world, and the way that I like to tell stories - I don't think you should get too heavy. There's enough out there, in the world, with violence. I think that comedy lightens the heaviness [of the world].

Martin McDonagh

stories world thinking

'Pulp Fiction' is an amazing film, and I haven't made one nearly as good.

Martin McDonagh

film made fiction

I like traveling and I like not being part of the film world. Especially when you're in the middle of a junket, you're thinking, "I'm not doing this again for four years!"That's about taking time and finding the right story and being in a happy place in life where you can joyfully tell a story. I'm not really into the fame side of things, so I'm very happy with making a film every four years or so.

Martin McDonagh

film world thinking

I love actors. Part of that is my theater background and being a writer who cares about performance. Actors have usually chosen their profession because they have a dream of doing it and they want to express something about the world. That's the same thing that I have with writing. Most of the good actors get into it for those reason, rather than for reasons of fame or fortune, or anything like that, and that's where I'm coming from, as a storyteller.

Martin McDonagh

dream writing world

I never really tell anyone what I'm writing beforehand because I usually don't know what it will be.

Martin McDonagh

writing

My plays are always pushing towards cinema anyway. They're down and dirty, real and more fun.

Martin McDonagh

real fun dirty

Theatre was an art form that I didn't really respect, and because I wanted to shake it up and do different things on stage, I was able to combine all the things I'd learnt through writing on my own.

Martin McDonagh

theatre writing art

I realize that I am never going to grow up.

Martin McDonagh

realizing growing-up grows

It's like two years straight out of your life doing a film. It's very enjoyable, especially working with the guys, but I kind of like the idea of traveling and growing, and developing as a writer and as a filmmaker.

Martin McDonagh

two years ideas

I never feel like a smug or a smart-alec film director, and there are plenty of those around.

Martin McDonagh

smart film directors

The fact that ticket prices are way too expensive, and there's only one bunch of people going to see Broadway shows, is something I've never liked.

Martin McDonagh

broadway facts people