All The Right Movies

A Life In Movies: James Woods

All The Right Movies

Show Notes

On the latest episode of A Life In Movies, the movie interview podcast by All The Right Movies, we're talking to legendary actor James Woods.

With a career spanning five decades, James has built a reputation as one of cinema's most compelling performers. An actor drawn to morally complex characters and unafraid to inhabit the darkest corners of human nature. A two-time Academy Award nominee with multiple Emmy wins to his name, his filmography reads like a masterclass in intensity.

Speaking to us from Los Angeles, James takes us through the key moments that shaped his remarkable career. From his early days studying Political Science at MIT before the pull of acting proved too strong, to his film debut working with the legendary Elia Kazan. We dive deep into five landmark films: David Cronenberg's prophetic body-horror Videodrome, Sergio Leone's epic Once Upon a Time in America opposite Robert De Niro, Oliver Stone's raw and urgent Salvador (which earned him his first Oscar nomination), the action-comedy The Hard Way with Michael J. Fox, and Martin Scorsese's Casino where he brought the slippery Lester Diamond to unforgettable life.

James also shares insights into his approach to those morally ambiguous characters that have become his trademark, his acclaimed television work, the compelling story behind his Executive Producer credit on Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and his most recent artistic endeavour in music. A fascinating conversation with one of American cinema's most distinctive talents. Connect with ATRM: To join our fantastic community of film fans, support what we do, access our archive, listen to exclusive episodes, and a whole lot more, become an ATRM patron: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the ATRM Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're available on any podcast platform: Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We're across all major social channels too: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ATRightMovies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@allthe_rightmovies ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our movie group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alltherightmovies.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alltherightmovies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alltherightmovies.com⁠⁠

More from All The Right Movies

Oct 23, 2026

A working flame-throwing guitar, strapped to a wall of speakers, bolted to the front of a truck. Somehow that barely makes the top five strangest things about it. John, Westy and Luke pick the story back up. Part 2 turns to the crew who built the chaos, including editor Margaret Sixel and her Oscar-winning cut, before the finale, the reception, the six Academy Awards, the sequels and the legacy. Then the hosts hand down their final verdict and scores. Not heard Part 1 yet? That's where George Miller, the cast and the first half of the run live. Worth going back for. Connect with ATRM: To join our fantastic community of film fans, support what we do, access our archive, listen to exclusive episodes, and a whole lot more, become an ATRM patron: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the ATRM Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Oct 23, 2026

Fifteen years in the making, one long sprint across the desert, and barely a line of dialogue to slow it down. John, Westy and Luke begin the story of the action film that came back from the dead. Part 1 takes in the opening, George Miller's return to the wasteland, a cast led by Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, and the middle stretch that never lifts off the accelerator. Plus why the Namibian desert nearly ruined everything by refusing to stay a desert. The War Rig isn't home yet. Part 2 has the crew, the finale, the awards and the legacy. Out now. Connect with ATRM: To join our fantastic community of film fans, support what we do, access our archive, listen to exclusive episodes, and a whole lot more, become an ATRM patron: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the ATRM Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Oct 16, 2026

ATRM return with a review of three brand new movie releases and recommend which are worth searching out. Reviewed this episode: The Social Reckoning Digger Wild Horse Nine

Oct 9, 2026

Four members of Queen writing a song each, a finale that nearly had a dragon in it, and a box office run only home video could save. Luke, Westy and John pick the story back up. Part 2 turns to the screenplay, the music of Queen and Michael Kamen and Gerry Fisher’s camerawork, then holy ground, the Silvercup showdown, the reception, the sequels (yes, even that one) and the hosts’ final verdict and scores.

Oct 9, 2026

A Frenchman playing a Scot, a Scot playing an Egyptian who swears he’s Spanish, and a seven-foot maniac with a broadsword. Luke, Westy and John begin the story of Russell Mulcahy’s Highlander, Westy’s lifelong obsession. Part 1 takes in the wrestling opener, the battle in the Highlands, Mulcahy’s music-video swagger and a cast led by Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery and Clancy Brown, right through to the castle assault and that 1783 brandy.

See all episodes →