“I think art has changed things. But I think murder has probably changed a lot more things. That's a terribly bleak thing. Terribly bleak answer.”
The Interview · In-Depth Interviews · October 2026
Context
The host described a scene in McDonagh's new work where a character mocks a young student for marching and says only violence achieves anything, and asked who is closer to the truth. This is McDonagh's blunt first answer; he goes on to argue art changes the world by being in it.
Transcript
But hang on. He doesn't win, though. So hang on. No, I've got to get anything.
…your goals is violence, basically guns, power. And I could imagine that the Malkovich character is even more cynical about the possibility of art changing anything or changing the world. Oh, God. Yeah. But who, who, in your heart, who do you think is closer to the truth? You or him? Ooh.
I think art has changed things. But I think murder has probably changed a lot more things. That's a terribly bleak thing. Terribly bleak answer.
Yeah.
But I ain't going to murder anyone, so I got to keep playing on.
You know, I was also thinking about why I was feeling so pessimistic about the possibilities of art. I think, like, do I, is that actually how I feel about it? And thinking about that. And then I realized that I think the powerful counter argument is actually already in your film. And that's…
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