The universe is governed by science. But science tells us that we can't solve the equations directly in the abstract.

I hooked up with director Jacques Audiard for this film called 'Rust & Bone' with Marion Cotillard. I loved that experience so much I'm truly sad that it's over!

I would never have become music director of the Chicago Symphony which would have been an extremely sad loss.

It's sad - it's sad for us old enough to remember when directors ruled and films were substantially better than they are today. But it's hard to argue with those kinds of grosses.

I am co-writing a screenplay now and I'm working on the rights to another story I want to do. So I plan to produce and direct. So for me I don't really feel that I am vulnerable to that sad baggage that comes with the business of filmmaking.

NASA has been one of the most successful public investments in motivating students to do well and achieve all they can achieve. It's sad that we are turning the programme in a direction where it will reduce the amount of motivation and stimulation it provides to young people.

I have great respect for directors who know what they're doing.

I would love to direct but I feel like directing is a whole separate craft and so I tend to respect it as a separate craft that I would need to study first. So right now I'm still trying to do certain things as an actor and until I get bored of that or I feel completely fed by that then I'll move into directing.

Of course the plea for respect for nonhuman life goes far beyond the scientific delight of familiarity with our planet mates. The nonhuman forms of life with which we 6 000 million talking upright apes share this finite planet are directly or indirectly connected to our well-being.

I don't wilt easily and a director can't either. He's the captain of the ship and he's got to be in total control. He also has to have respect for the people he's working for. From being an actor and being on a set my whole life I'm very comfortable there. And I'm not afraid.