--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought Rounders was a comic movie in…" description: "\"I thought Rounders was a comic movie in its way. First time I directed a movie, I wanted to do a comedy. I don't like things that are superficially one..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/edward-norton-2203_comedy_i-thought-rounders-was-a-comic-movie-in_1106963.jpg" --- # I thought Rounders was a comic movie in its way. First… ![“I thought Rounders was a comic movie in its way. First time I directed a movie, I wanted to do a comedy. I don't like things that are superficially one thing or another, mainly. My favorite comedies are really smart, too, and have a lot of levels to them as well.” quote by Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/edward-norton-2203_comedy_i-thought-rounders-was-a-comic-movie-in_1106963.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/edward-norton-2203_comedy_i-thought-rounders-was-a-comic-movie-in_1106963.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/edward-norton-2203_comedy_i-thought-rounders-was-a-comic-movie-in_1106963.jpg) > “I thought Rounders was a comic movie in its way. First time I directed a movie, I wanted to do a comedy. I don't like things that are superficially one thing or another, mainly. My favorite comedies are really smart, too, and have a lot of levels to them as well.” [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He desired a comedy with depth, rejecting superficiality, preferring layered humor. **In simple terms:** He wanted smart, multi‑level comedy. Key Takeaway Seek depth in humor. Themes film comedy artistic vision Mood reflective analytical Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - film directing - scriptwriting - comedic performance Key Concepts layered narrative subtext genre blending Questions to Reflect On - How do you define “smart” comedy? - What layers make a film resonate? A Different Perspective Balancing humor and depth can limit audience appeal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedies/) [Comedies Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedies-really-877073/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [My favorite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-favorite/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Really smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-smart/) [Rounders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rounders-284666/) [Rounders Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rounders-comic-2929298/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Thought Rounders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-rounders-2929299/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Ever since the first 'American Pie,' I've always been happy to just have an opportunity, I just didn't think it was going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-william-scott/ever-since-the-first-american-pie-i-ve-always-been-happy-to-just-have/) [Sean William Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-william-scott/) > [I think that sometimes, romantic comedies have to be really broad, and that the plot of people falling in and out of love or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-holofcener/i-think-that-sometimes-romantic-comedies-have-to-be-really-broad-and/) [Nicole Holofcener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-holofcener/) > [Most comedies are really hard to write, or to watch, because you kind of generally know what's coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/most-comedies-are-really-hard-to-write-or-to-watch-because-you-kind/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [There are so many great comedies, right now. I like how comedies are really mixing. They're not just one thing. It can be very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/there-are-so-many-great-comedies-right-now-i-like-how-comedies-are/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [What I like in comedies are really two things: stories that are character-driven and stories that are rooted in authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-karpovsky/what-i-like-in-comedies-are-really-two-things-stories-that-are/) [Alex Karpovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-karpovsky/) > [I want to do more films - not just comedies, because I really want to show my range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/i-want-to-do-more-films-not-just-comedies-because-i-really-want-to/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Only men like Imran Khan, Kapil Dev and Ian Botham can be branded all-rounders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garfield-sobers/only-men-like-imran-khan-kapil-dev-and-ian-botham-can-be-branded-all/) [Garfield Sobers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garfield-sobers/) > [The great all-rounders were not considered part-timers in one particular department. They could turn games at any stage and on any surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garfield-sobers/the-great-all-rounders-were-not-considered-part-timers-in-one/) [Garfield Sobers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garfield-sobers/) > [I'm obsessed with 'Game of Thrones.' I love comedies - I really like '30 Rock' and 'Modern Family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-nayyar/i-m-obsessed-with-game-of-thrones-i-love-comedies-i-really-like-30/) [Kunal Nayyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-nayyar/) > [There weren't roles for females in comedies for a really long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/there-weren-t-roles-for-females-in-comedies-for-a-really-long-time/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Editing was hard for me. It was hard to be in a room by yourself and not have that collaborative spirit. Comedies are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerusha-hess/editing-was-hard-for-me-it-was-hard-to-be-in-a-room-by-yourself-and/) [Jerusha Hess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerusha-hess/) > [When I'm 32? Hopefully I'll have made my mark with a few different movies, some scary ones and some comedies. I'm really funny, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/when-i-m-32-hopefully-i-ll-have-made-my-mark-with-a-few-different/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [I've always loved comedy and growing up it was the comedies that I really responded to. So I don't know how it turned out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-ve-always-loved-comedy-and-growing-up-it-was-the-comedies-that-i/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [ For Keeping the Faith, I looked at \[George \] Cukor's old films like The Philadelphia Story, stuff that's hilariously funny and really smart with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/for-keeping-the-faith-i-looked-at-george-cukor-s-old-films-like-the/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [A lot of times when you're around really, really smart people, you don't really understand them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martellus-bennett/a-lot-of-times-when-you-re-around-really-really-smart-people-you-don/) [Martellus Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martellus-bennett/) ## More by Edward Norton > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [ As an actor, if you step to the side and you look at \[Thornton's performance\] technically, and you try to imagine doing what he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/as-an-actor-if-you-step-to-the-side-and-you-look-at-thornton-s/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [It's better for people to miss you than to have seen too much of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/it-s-better-for-people-to-miss-you-than-to-have-seen-too-much-of-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [You can't control everything that comes to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/you-can-t-control-everything-that-comes-to-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [The incentive for business is not, and cannot, be anything other than the root incentive for all business: they must profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/the-incentive-for-business-is-not-and-cannot-be-anything-other-than/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [My greatest hope is that we transcend the most fearful thing, which is that we are rapidly degrading the ecological systems on this planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/my-greatest-hope-is-that-we-transcend-the-most-fearful-thing-which-is/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [David Fincher is probably the best comprehensive director in terms of being a manger of a process that must drive forward. He has such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/david-fincher-is-probably-the-best-comprehensive-director-in-terms-of/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Sometimes their oppression of emotion and the weird way it comes out is more interesting than painting it in bold primary colors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/sometimes-their-oppression-of-emotion-and-the-weird-way-it-comes-out/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [The thing I'm absolutely convinced of, no matter how crazy - technological the world is getting, is that people feel more connected through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/the-thing-i-m-absolutely-convinced-of-no-matter-how-crazy/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Making really great music, making really great films, writing great books is an antidote to all of that. And, as people, as artists, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/making-really-great-music-making-really-great-films-writing-great/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I like music, but I need to get outside more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-like-music-but-i-need-to-get-outside-more/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I've always liked the idea of taking old dramatic ideas and devices and making them feel relevant or contemporary or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-ve-always-liked-the-idea-of-taking-old-dramatic-ideas-and-devices/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I don't think you should sit around and wait for people to give you an opportunity to express yourself or do your work, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-think-you-should-sit-around-and-wait-for-people-to-give-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [To cite my own alma mater, it's shocking to me that Yale University can teach what it teaches at the Yale School of Environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/to-cite-my-own-alma-mater-it-s-shocking-to-me-that-yale-university/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I had a huge advantage with Edward Norton because he's directed a movie before, so one thing he appreciates is how hard my job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-had-a-huge-advantage-with-edward-norton-because-he-s-directed-a/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) [Explore all 179 Edward Norton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) ## More Comedies quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I like 'The Usual Suspects'. Great film. I also like 'Scarface', films like that. Lots of gangster films. I really like watching all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/i-like-the-usual-suspects-great-film-i-also-like-scarface-films-like/) [Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/) > [When I first did theatre, I was always doing comedies; it was always my first love. But it wasn't what I was picked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/when-i-first-did-theatre-i-was-always-doing-comedies-it-was-always-my/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) > [I love comedy; I'm super passionate about it, and thank God it's super in right now to have female empowered comedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dreama-walker/i-love-comedy-i-m-super-passionate-about-it-and-thank-god-it-s-super/) [Dreama Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dreama-walker/) > [One of my favorite comedies is 'Shaun of the Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumail-nanjiani/one-of-my-favorite-comedies-is-shaun-of-the-dead/) [Kumail Nanjiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumail-nanjiani/) > [I'd played a lot of best friends, and/or bad guys, which seems to be my lot in life. In romantic comedies there's always a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-corddry/i-d-played-a-lot-of-best-friends-and-or-bad-guys-which-seems-to-be-my/) [Rob Corddry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-corddry/) > [In comedy, if you're going to commission something commission two series, don't commission one because so many comedies are finding their feet and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-whitehouse/in-comedy-if-you-re-going-to-commission-something-commission-two/) [Paul Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-whitehouse/) > [ Comedy is lively, comedy is joy, and that's what keeps us \[people\] going, we've got to look forward to little, little happiness's. Little, little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/comedy-is-lively-comedy-is-joy-and-that-s-what-keeps-us-people-going/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [I've been watching 'The Cosby Show' and 'Roseanne' a lot right now, and those work so well because they're not, like, jokey comedies; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-jacobson/i-ve-been-watching-the-cosby-show-and-roseanne-a-lot-right-now-and/) [Abbi Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-jacobson/) > [If you look at romantic comedies as pieces of commerce, the audience is looking for wish fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/if-you-look-at-romantic-comedies-as-pieces-of-commerce-the-audience/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [It's the contemporary woman that movies don't know what to do with, other than bathe her in a bridal glow in romantic comedies where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/it-s-the-contemporary-woman-that-movies-don-t-know-what-to-do-with/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [You know, I became a director out of necessity. I was writing comedies, and I couldn't find anybody to deliver it correctly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/you-know-i-became-a-director-out-of-necessity-i-was-writing-comedies/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [I do more films than television, and in Mexico, they are more situational comedies - not the typical telenovela.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-camil/i-do-more-films-than-television-and-in-mexico-they-are-more/) [Jaime Camil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-camil/) > [I have observed that in comedies the best actor plays the droll, while some scrub rogue is made the fine gentleman or hero. Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/i-have-observed-that-in-comedies-the-best-actor-plays-the-droll-while/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [I think a lot of the romantic comedies need to catch up with what's actually kind of happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-meriwether/i-think-a-lot-of-the-romantic-comedies-need-to-catch-up-with-what-s/) [Elizabeth Meriwether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-meriwether/) [Browse all 543 Comedies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought Rounders was a comic movie in its way. First time I directed a movie, I wanted to do a comedy. I don't like things that are superficially one thing or another, mainly. 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