--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether you think a film will affect…" description: "\"Whether you think a film will affect society or it's plain entertainment, it's all excellent, it's all noble.\" — Joaquin Phoenix" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/joaquin-phoenix-4581_cinema_whether-you-think-a-film-will-affect-soc_1853744.jpg" --- # Whether you think a film will affect society or it's plain… ![“Whether you think a film will affect society or it's plain entertainment, it's all excellent, it's all noble.” quote by Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/joaquin-phoenix-4581_cinema_whether-you-think-a-film-will-affect-soc_1853744.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/joaquin-phoenix-4581_cinema_whether-you-think-a-film-will-affect-soc_1853744.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/joaquin-phoenix-4581_cinema_whether-you-think-a-film-will-affect-soc_1853744.jpg) > “Whether you think a film will affect society or it's plain entertainment, it's all excellent, it's all noble.” [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art can be both entertainment and a catalyst for social reflection, giving cultural value to all forms. **In simple terms:** Films can be fun and meaningful. Key Takeaway Create or support media that sparks dialogue. Themes art society entertainment Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - film festivals - community screenings - educational curricula - social campaigns Key Concepts cultural studies media theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - What film has changed your view of society? - How can entertainment balance fun and purpose? A Different Perspective Not all audiences engage deeply; impact varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Entertainment Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment-excellent-2449570/) [Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) [Excellent Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent-noble-2449572/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Affect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-affect-2449571/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Plain Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plain-entertainment-2449573/) [Think Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-film/) ## Related quotes > [To lie is vile, to tell truth is excellent, if not noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/to-lie-is-vile-to-tell-truth-is-excellent-if-not-noble/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“There was a time when I thought that film, unlike other art forms (being the most democratic of them all) had a total effect,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-tarkovsky/there-was-a-time-when-i-thought-that-film-unlike-other-art-forms/) [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) > [I think film cannot only teleport you to places you don't know, but it can help you see people you thought were one way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/i-think-film-cannot-only-teleport-you-to-places-you-don-t-know-but-it/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [I never think that a film should answer questions for you. I think it should make you ask a lot of questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-never-think-that-a-film-should-answer-questions-for-you-i-think-it/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I think each film should be regarded as its own specific text.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bong-joon-ho/i-think-each-film-should-be-regarded-as-its-own-specific-text/) [Bong Joon-ho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bong-joon-ho/) > [I think every film has a destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hrithik-roshan/i-think-every-film-has-a-destiny/) [Hrithik Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hrithik-roshan/) > [Language, I think, has nothing to do with film-making. It is how you make your point and whether you exploit the visual medium maintaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/language-i-think-has-nothing-to-do-with-film-making-it-is-how-you/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [I don't think my film style has changed. I'm doing the same kind of jokes I did when I was younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-don-t-think-my-film-style-has-changed-i-m-doing-the-same-kind-of/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I love the sharpness and political tone of RoboCop and I think that such a film is now urgently needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-padilha/i-love-the-sharpness-and-political-tone-of-robocop-and-i-think-that/) [Jose Padilha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-padilha/) > [I don't think that a film should be known as 'male-centric' or 'female-centric,' but it should be known for the story. That would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/i-don-t-think-that-a-film-should-be-known-as-male-centric-or-female/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) > [We like to think of film and music as art, but actually art is something that is not restricted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-best/we-like-to-think-of-film-and-music-as-art-but-actually-art-is/) [Ahmed Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-best/) > [I think film requires a lot more patience and concentration and each day you're keeping the entire picture in your head throughout a two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawnee-smith/i-think-film-requires-a-lot-more-patience-and-concentration-and-each/) [Shawnee Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawnee-smith/) > [I think every film is like a team game, especially for me. I have always got films which have a strong cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayushmann-khurrana/i-think-every-film-is-like-a-team-game-especially-for-me-i-have/) [Ayushmann Khurrana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayushmann-khurrana/) > [I think you get out of film school what you put into it. If you don't care about making movies, film school will do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-king/i-think-you-get-out-of-film-school-what-you-put-into-it-if-you-don-t/) [Richard King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-king/) > [I think I've always wanted to direct, but I didn't go to film school. I was lucky enough to work in movies, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-think-i-ve-always-wanted-to-direct-but-i-didn-t-go-to-film-school-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) ## More by Joaquin Phoenix > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [I enjoy writing rhymes and sitting alone in a room listening to beats. It's pretty amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-enjoy-writing-rhymes-and-sitting-alone-in-a-room-listening-to-beats/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [It's an amazing feeling to go into a studio and really be alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/it-s-an-amazing-feeling-to-go-into-a-studio-and-really-be-alone/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [I began acting when River was doing this TV series and they needed two kids for the show, so they got me and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-began-acting-when-river-was-doing-this-tv-series-and-they-needed/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/it-takes-nothing-away-from-a-human-to-be-kind-to-an-animal/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [My parents were just searching for an alternative way of raising their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/my-parents-were-just-searching-for-an-alternative-way-of-raising/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [The reason I keep making movies is I hate the last thing I did. I'm trying to rectify my wrongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/the-reason-i-keep-making-movies-is-i-hate-the-last-thing-i-did-i-m/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [I once told a journalist that girls call me 'Kitten,' but I couldn't have been more sarcastic, and no matter how many times I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-once-told-a-journalist-that-girls-call-me-kitten-but-i-couldn-t/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [When I go out with the ladies, I don't force them to pronounce my name. I tell them I like to go by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/when-i-go-out-with-the-ladies-i-don-t-force-them-to-pronounce-my-name/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [I have this horrible sense of humor where I think discomfort is funny - partly because I experience discomfort a lot, and it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-have-this-horrible-sense-of-humor-where-i-think-discomfort-is-funny/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [The expectation is this low, gravelly voice for John, but I went through his early recordings and there were songs in there where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/the-expectation-is-this-low-gravelly-voice-for-john-but-i-went/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Do I have a large frog in my hair? I have the sensation that something is eating my brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/do-i-have-a-large-frog-in-my-hair-i-have-the-sensation-that-something/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Well, I think that you know, I threatened myself with quitting after every movie. But I think everybody does that, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/well-i-think-that-you-know-i-threatened-myself-with-quitting-after/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [There is no need for fur - since there are compassionate alternatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/there-is-no-need-for-fur-since-there-are-compassionate-alternatives/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [The only reason why I would like to be accepted? Because if your movies don't do well, after a while you don't get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/the-only-reason-why-i-would-like-to-be-accepted-because-if-your/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) [Explore all 109 Joaquin Phoenix quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [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/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [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/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whether you think a film will affect society or it's plain entertainment, it's all excellent, it's all noble.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joaquin Phoenix" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/whether-you-think-a-film-will-affect-society-or-it-s-plain/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/whether-you-think-a-film-will-affect-society-or-it-s-plain/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/joaquin-phoenix-4581_cinema_whether-you-think-a-film-will-affect-soc_1853744.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/joaquin-phoenix-4581_cinema_whether-you-think-a-film-will-affect-soc_1853744.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/joaquin-phoenix-4581_cinema_whether-you-think-a-film-will-affect-soc_1853744.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whether you think a film will affect society or it's plain entertainment, it's all excellent, it's all noble.” — Joaquin Phoenix", "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": "Joaquin Phoenix", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whether you think a film will...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/whether-you-think-a-film-will-affect-society-or-it-s-plain/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/whether-you-think-a-film-will-affect-society-or-it-s-plain/#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 } } ] } ```