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Film credit
James Woods
Also referred to as Woods
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 2
- Movies in this archive
- 2
Rewatchables episodes featuring James Woods’s films
Displaying all 2 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:19Read transcript
- Casting what-ifs: Daniel Day-Lewis and Michael Keaton reportedly declined Andy; Bill Murray and Robin Williams were considered for a more comic Joe before Denzel. — Bill Simmons
- Casting what-ifs: John Leguizamo reportedly chose Super Mario Bros.over Miguel; James Woods was considered for Wheeler. Springsteen initially offered existing Tunnel of Love before writing a new song.
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:10Read transcript
- Hackman reportedly declined Jessup for Unforgiven, a decision endorsed because it won him the Oscar. — Bill Simmons
- James Woods reportedly lost the offer when Nicholson accepted; Woods is considered a strong alternative performer. — Bill Simmons
- Jodie Foster and Linda Hamilton competed for Jo; Hamilton is imagined as a tougher, more confrontational version. — Bill Simmons
- Jason Alexander was initially cast as Weinberg but reportedly withdrew after Seinfeld’s second-season renewal. — Bill Simmons
- Alexander is preferred over Pollak by one participant and rejected by two others; his Seinfeld association and squirmier screen persona are debated, with Larry David offered jokingly.
Casting What-Ifs
Schwarzenegger, Stallone or Willis as McCord; Woods as Foss
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:52Read transcript
- Schwarzenegger reportedly declined while making True Lies and Junior. — Bill Simmons
- Stallone reportedly declined because of script quality, which is questioned given Daylight. — Bill Simmons
- Willis reportedly declined while making Die Hard with a Vengeance. — Bill Simmons
- James Woods reportedly rejected the villain role; he is considered a better fit around his Lester Diamond performance. — Bill Simmons
Half-Assed Internet Research
Real people, costumes, a murder attempt, profanity, improv, sets, ribs, cigarettes, restaurants, and high rollers
In the discussion (15)
Approx. transcript time · 01:37:15Read transcript
- Frank Cullotta served as technical adviser and appeared as a hitman. — Bill Simmons
- The costume budget was one million dollars, with 70 De Niro outfits and 40 Stone outfits. — Bill Simmons
- Joe Pesci’s then-wife Claudia Haro was later convicted in an attempted-murder scheme against another ex-husband. — Bill Simmons
- The film uses the F-word 435 times. — Bill Simmons
- James Woods improvised dialogue and the detail that Lester was with a prostitute using cocaine during the wedding call. — Bill Simmons
- The count-room set was constructed because productions are not allowed into a real count room. — Bill Simmons
- Frank Rosenthal’s television-show guests included Sinatra, Hope, Liberace, O. J. Simpson, and Rickles. — Bill Simmons
- Pesci suffered a rib injury during the cornfield sequence.
- De Niro maintained cigarette length for continuity. — Bill Simmons
- Piero’s restaurant stood in for the Leaning Tower.
- Future Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman appears as an attorney.
- Nobu Matsuhisa plays Ichikawa. — Bill Simmons
- Akio Kashiwagi’s casino debts and murder are discussed. — Bill Simmons
- Ace’s house was later bought by Suge Knight. — Bill Simmons
- Frank Rosenthal’s later nightclub, online-betting, and family life are summarized. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:40Read transcript
- James Woods is selected. — Bill Simmons
- Don Rickles is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- Catherine Scorsese is nominated. — Bill Simmons
What’s Aged the Best?
Sharon Stone, old Las Vegas, casino systems, music, costumes, and supporting performances
In the discussion (23)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:03Read transcript
- Sharon Stone’s performance is praised.
- De Niro and Pesci’s improvisation is praised.
- Pesci becoming violent in bars is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Ginger tipping service workers is praised.
- The head-vice sequence and its ratings history are discussed. — Bill Simmons
- The old Strip and real locations are praised. — Bill Simmons
- James Woods is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Ginger’s scenes with her daughter are discussed. — Bill Simmons
- Nicky’s recurring oral-sex behavior is treated as a darkly comic character detail. — Bill Simmons
- Frank Vincent and Pesci reversing power from Goodfellas is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Ginger’s beehive and diamonds are praised. — Bill Simmons
- The golf-course airplane landing is praised. — Sean Fennessey
- The casting of old-Vegas personalities is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Aces High is praised.
- The music choices are praised.
- The count room is praised. — Bill Simmons
- The blueberry-muffin complaint is praised. — Bill Simmons
- The explosive opening is praised. — Bill Simmons
- The Rain Man dealer is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Scorsese’s inventive cocaine imagery is praised. — Bill Simmons
- The aged hitmen are praised.
- Ace’s house is praised. — Bill Simmons
- James Woods’s Lester is ultimately offered as another leading aged-best answer. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 01:31:04Read transcript
- Stone is said to have sent the script to Costner, Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford. — Bill Simmons
- Gibson is argued as a great, wild-eyed Garrison who would better represent Stone's mind, and who later made Conspiracy Theory; another questions casting an Australian. — Sean Fennessey
- Harrison Ford doesn't make sense but is a big what-if, with a wish he had more movies like this.
- Don Johnson tried hard for Garrison and has post-Miami Vice appeal, but doesn't read smart enough to be the district attorney. — Brian Koppelman
- Jeff Bridges would have been amazing; 'Hank' (as transcribed) might work but may be two years too young and too aw-shucks. — Brian Koppelman
- Will Patton is suggested as David Ferry; Stone wanted James Woods, but Woods wanted to play Garrison. — Bill Simmons
- Frank Whaley was going to be Oswald, and after the part went to Oldman he was made the imposter.
- Willem DeFoe (as transcribed) and John Malkovich turned down the Ferry role; Malkovich in the red wig would have been mind-boggling.
- Stone considered Marlon Brando for Mr. X, joked to need SNL monologue-style cue cards.
- Origin: Stone met Warner Brothers about a Howard Hughes film, but Warren Beatty had the rights, so JFK was the backup pitch; jokes follow about carrying three pitches and a Doug Collins 1972 Olympics pitch.
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:00Read transcript
- Lawrence Tierney cannot win because he is a bad actor rather than an overactor; it has to be Chris Penn, bad for about ninety seconds after he shoots the cop, spit flying and eyes bulging, trying too hard like he is taking a shit, though he is really great overall; Sean Penn or James Woods are imagined in the scene.
- Another nominee is the last thirty seconds of Keitel, climbing on Roth almost romantically after their father-son bond; they bet on the Brewers.
Casting What-Ifs
James Woods received five cash offers his agent refused; Tarantino wrote Mr. Pink for himself; Madsen, Vincent Gallo, Tim Roth and Tom Sizemore were in the mix for Mr. Pink; Buscemi auditioned for Mr. White; George Clooney read and Christopher Walken passed on Mr. Blonde; Robert Forster auditioned for Joe Cabot; Tony Scott wanted to direct
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:13Read transcript
- Tarantino wanted James Woods and made five cash offers, which Woods' agent refused without telling him because they were below his salary; Woods fired the agent after learning the story, and Tarantino never told him which role; online speculation says Mr. Orange, which the hosts doubt given Woods' age, preferring him as Mr. White.
- Tarantino wrote Mr. Pink for himself; Madsen auditioned for Pink, Vincent Gallo turned it down, which is doubted as half-assed research, Tim Roth almost played it, and Tom Sizemore was a finalist, which could have broken brains.
- Sizemore has a very outsized role in the Tarantino universe over the next few years. — Chris Ryan
- Sizemore's Natural Born Killers character is the brother of Seymour Scagnetti, one of the most messed-up characters in movie history; asked which part he wanted and why, Sizemore told Tarantino 'the action is the juice'; Buscemi originally auditioned for Mr. White.
- George Clooney read for Mr. Blonde, which the hosts can see, and later did From Dusk Till Dawn; Christopher Walken refused Mr. Blonde, almost too obvious a choice, perhaps never even replying to the script.
- Robert Forster auditioned for Joe Cabot; one host never thought Forster was that great, including in Jackie Brown, and never bought the attraction with Pam Gray (as transcribed), which the others call a crazy, bad take given his Oscar nomination; he would still have been better than Lawrence Tierney.
- Tony Scott read both scripts, wanted Reservoir Dogs and was told he could have True Romance; his version would have shown the heist with more cop stuff, a Hans Zimmer score instead of seventies songs, and Gary Oldman as Mr. Blonde with dreadlocks and gold teeth.
- Cross-echoes with True Romance: 'a diddle-at-joe' to Drexel's 'damned if I know', and Mr. White saying he used to work with Alabama; the theatrical release has no female speaking parts beyond the woman who shoots Mr. Orange, nor does this podcast.
The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance
Woods delivers an exceptional brief supporting performance.
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:32:06Read transcript
- The doctor is compared with a basketball scorer dominating in limited minutes, capped by a forceful exit speech. — Chris Ryan
Displaying all 10 discussions
