--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is this film more interesting than a…" description: "\"Is this film more interesting than a documentary of the same actors having lunch?\" — Gene Siskel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/gene-siskel-26263_actors_is-this-film-more-interesting-than-a-doc_2414775.jpg" --- # Is this film more interesting than a documentary of the… ![“Is this film more interesting than a documentary of the same actors having lunch?” quote by Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/gene-siskel-26263_actors_is-this-film-more-interesting-than-a-doc_2414775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/gene-siskel-26263_actors_is-this-film-more-interesting-than-a-doc_2414775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/gene-siskel-26263_actors_is-this-film-more-interesting-than-a-doc_2414775.jpg) > “Is this film more interesting than a documentary of the same actors having lunch?” [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The question challenges whether a scripted film offers more intrigue than a straightforward documentary of the same actors in a casual setting. **In simple terms:** Film vs. documentary intrigue. Key Takeaway Consider narrative value. Themes cinema documentary comparison Mood analytical inquisitive Type question critical When to use this quote - film criticism - media analysis - audience engagement Key Concepts storytelling authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What makes a film more compelling than a documentary? - Does authenticity outweigh narrative structure? A Different Perspective None; personal taste varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Documentaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentaries/) [Documentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary/) [Documentary Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary-actors-3269516/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-interesting-360580/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Interesting Documentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-documentary-4341555/) [Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lunch/) ## Related quotes > [We exaggerate the difference between documentary and fiction. I think that on some level a fiction film is also a documentary on the actors.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/we-exaggerate-the-difference-between-documentary-and-fiction-i-think/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) > [“Siskel's Saw. "It's amazing how many movies are not as interesting as a documentary of the same actors sitting around talking over lunch." GENE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/siskel-s-saw-it-s-amazing-how-many-movies-are-not-as-interesting-as-a/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [If actors are making a little film with me at 2am in Nashville, they're not doing it to get paid. They're doing it because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dito-montiel/if-actors-are-making-a-little-film-with-me-at-2am-in-nashville-they/) [Dito Montiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dito-montiel/) > [I just cannot do a boring film. It has to be interesting with a good character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/i-just-cannot-do-a-boring-film-it-has-to-be-interesting-with-a-good/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [I do read some of the scripts from America and, even though the themes or subject of the film is very interesting, and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mads-mikkelsen/i-do-read-some-of-the-scripts-from-america-and-even-though-the-themes/) [Mads Mikkelsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mads-mikkelsen/) > [In 'Stree,' I play a character who believes that he knows everything. And I play a cop in 'Drive.' It is a different kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/in-stree-i-play-a-character-who-believes-that-he-knows-everything-and/) [Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/) > [Many number of times I say no when a producer or a director asks me to do a cop's role, unless the film is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishwajeet-pradhan/many-number-of-times-i-say-no-when-a-producer-or-a-director-asks-me/) [Vishwajeet Pradhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishwajeet-pradhan/) > [For me, it was always clear that Toni Erdmann is more a film about what globalization, capitalism, does with private relationships much more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maren-ade/for-me-it-was-always-clear-that-toni-erdmann-is-more-a-film-about/) [Maren Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maren-ade/) > [When I'm watching one of my movies in a festival with fans who are just into it and they love it? I end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-miike/when-i-m-watching-one-of-my-movies-in-a-festival-with-fans-who-are/) [Takashi Miike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-miike/) > [I would consider doing any part as long as the script is good and the film has an interesting director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-would-consider-doing-any-part-as-long-as-the-script-is-good-and-the/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [Why should I limit myself or drive myself towards a woman-centric film. Sometimes, the most interesting role is not that of the protagonist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonali-bendre/why-should-i-limit-myself-or-drive-myself-towards-a-woman-centric/) [Sonali Bendre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonali-bendre/) > [It's never been my goal to do 'big' films because a big film in itself is not very interesting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greig-fraser/it-s-never-been-my-goal-to-do-big-films-because-a-big-film-in-itself/) [Greig Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greig-fraser/) > [What's interesting is that you can have a set that's very calm, very smooth, very cooperative... and end up with a terrible movie. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/what-s-interesting-is-that-you-can-have-a-set-that-s-very-calm-very/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [For me, every film is an interesting experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/for-me-every-film-is-an-interesting-experience/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [You get very little from the studios anymore, it's all independent. And I think the studio, with the exception of something like The Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-weir/you-get-very-little-from-the-studios-anymore-it-s-all-independent-and/) [Peter Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-weir/) ## More by Gene Siskel > [We don't pretend to disagree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/we-don-t-pretend-to-disagree/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [A film that aims low should not be praised for hitting that target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/a-film-that-aims-low-should-not-be-praised-for-hitting-that-target/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [After 27 years, I walked out of my first one a few months ago. Black Sheep with Chris Farley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/after-27-years-i-walked-out-of-my-first-one-a-few-months-ago-black/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [In fact, Cannonball Run II. I used to pick that as the worst movie ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/in-fact-cannonball-run-ii-i-used-to-pick-that-as-the-worst-movie-ever/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [Going to a movie is a two-hour experience; at $7.50 for a ticket, you are valuing your time at far less than the minimum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/going-to-a-movie-is-a-two-hour-experience-at-7-50-for-a-ticket-you/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [For my 50th birthday, I got ahold of a new print of 'Saturday Night Fever.' I see it much more as a tough coming-of-age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/for-my-50th-birthday-i-got-ahold-of-a-new-print-of-saturday-night/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [“You think you know it, but you always find out new stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/you-think-you-know-it-but-you-always-find-out-new-stuff/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [We'd rather see a picture that we liked then dump on one we didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/we-d-rather-see-a-picture-that-we-liked-then-dump-on-one-we-didn-t/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [That's probably when I get the most angry at American movies, when they just so cynically manipulate the audience without even trying to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/that-s-probably-when-i-get-the-most-angry-at-american-movies-when/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [There is a point when a personal opinion shades off into an error of fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/there-is-a-point-when-a-personal-opinion-shades-off-into-an-error-of/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [As a critic, I try very hard to say exactly what I think. And in a medium in which we are well-known for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/as-a-critic-i-try-very-hard-to-say-exactly-what-i-think-and-in-a/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [Two things are not debatable: eroticism, and comedy. If you don't think it's sexy, or funny, there's no way I can change your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/two-things-are-not-debatable-eroticism-and-comedy-if-you-don-t-think/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [I'm not surprised that Spielberg was able to capture the heroism of Schindler; so many of his movies are about the better part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/i-m-not-surprised-that-spielberg-was-able-to-capture-the-heroism-of/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [The result is a picture that represents so much of what I want and rarely get from a movie - a couple of hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/the-result-is-a-picture-that-represents-so-much-of-what-i-want-and/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [I would rather turn my head and cough than see any part of 'Patch Adams' again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/i-would-rather-turn-my-head-and-cough-than-see-any-part-of-patch/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) [Explore all 22 Gene Siskel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Is this film more interesting than a documentary of the same actors having lunch?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gene Siskel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/is-this-film-more-interesting-than-a-documentary-of-the-same-actors/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/is-this-film-more-interesting-than-a-documentary-of-the-same-actors/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/gene-siskel-26263_actors_is-this-film-more-interesting-than-a-doc_2414775.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/gene-siskel-26263_actors_is-this-film-more-interesting-than-a-doc_2414775.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/gene-siskel-26263_actors_is-this-film-more-interesting-than-a-doc_2414775.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Is this film more interesting than a documentary of the same actors having lunch?” — Gene Siskel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gene Siskel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Is this film more interesting than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/is-this-film-more-interesting-than-a-documentary-of-the-same-actors/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/is-this-film-more-interesting-than-a-documentary-of-the-same-actors/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```