Le 22 Février 2010
En cette période des Oscars : le questionnaire de Proust fait à Martin Scorsese et lu dans Vanity Fair.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
I think you can strive to attain it, but be realistic about the outcome. In the meantime, I find I might be experiencing it through flashes or brief moments in love and art, and at times just being alive.
When and where were you happiest?
When my friends and I were making Mean Streets,1973.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Laziness, wasting time. I’d like to be able to make films faster.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Actually, I dislike dealing with schedules and logistics—mine and others’.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Old Technicolor films—watching, collecting, or helping to restore them.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Prudence.
On What occasion do you lie?
To avoid, if at all possible, a plane flight.
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
When I was acting in Tavernier’s film ‘Round Midnight, I played a nightclub owner. One shot, all I had to do was walk across the room. When he said “Action” I started to walk, and I became very aware of walking. I find I’m usually walking too fast, and I don’t like the way it looks. As far as the rest of me, I’ve learned to live with it.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
First of all, I’d like to stop complaining—I’m beginning to annoy myself. I would like to learn to read faster, however. Again, the rest I’ve learned to live with.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I use the word “wonderful” too much. I picked this up from cinematographer Michael Chapman. During Taxi Driver, checking a shot, I asked him, “Do you think that’s O.K., with such and such?” He answered, “Oh, that’s wonderful, don’t touch it.” And I thought the word “wonderful” was an odd way to describe a shot of the squalor of a city street. I found I enjoyed the expression “wonderful”—it’s actually a wonderful word. But I’ve used it too much since 1975 and I’m trying to cut back.
What is your favorite journey?
Italy through to North Africa.
What is your greatest regret?
Not reading more when I was younger. Also, I admire the process of cooking, and I regret never really having had a chance to learn how to cook.
Which talent would you most like to have?
To write and play music.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Putting eardrops in my dog Zoë’s ears. Zoë is a bichon frisé, very pretty but a little temperamental, and it usually takes two people to put in the medication. But at times I was actually able to do it alone. This was a revelation because all my life I’ve had asthma and allergies and could never even as much as go near animals. Then Zoë arrived and my life changed. Most of the allergies subsided—less asthma too. Above all, I learned some patience and caring in the process. To be able to deal with animals like this is something I never thought would happen in my life. However, I’m still allergic to cats.
