"Having a deep knowledge of the West has always been very important to me," he said in an interview during the campaign with Zanan, a respected women's magazine.
While there are plenty of gags, much of the humour comes from the director having a deep knowledge of the rigid structure of Hollywood action movies and the talent to exploit it.
He was a true renaissance man, having a deep knowledge of and passion for music, art, travel, politics, history, literature, business, sports, and the well-being of the State of Israel.
Those with shining memories of Roth's first book, the wonderful story collection "Goodbye, Columbus," published more than half a century ago, will recall that he already spoke back then of having a "deep knowledge of Newark, an attachment so rooted that it could not help but branch out into affection".
In the five years since he was made shadow culture secretary, and then culture secretary when the Tories won the 2010 election, Hunt has given the impression of someone who enjoys the arts without having a deep knowledge of – or passion for – them.
The Democrats have offered Hubert Humphrey, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Barack Obama – people with personal faults, but all having a deep knowledge of, and respect for, the hard work of governance and with thoughtful ideas on how to improve it.
