His projects execute the gamut from biopicsto sci-fi horror.
10’Vampires' (1998)
Directed by John Carpenter
“Can I ask you something?
When I was kicking your ass back there, did you get a little wood?”
Custom Image by Zanda Rice
He’s simply a fantastic fit for the part.
Woods leadsthis courtroom dramaas Eddie Dodd, a disillusioned civil rights attorney turned defender of drug dealers and lowlifes.
His fiery energy infuses the film with urgency, helping to smooth over the lulls and duller stretches.
In Las Vegas, two best friends — a casino executive and a mafia enforcer — compete for a gambling empire and a fast-living, fast-loving socialite.
All told, whileTrue Believermay not be groundbreaking, it’s certainly watchable.
Theres no other way."
Woods brings his signature edge to the role, making Lester both charmingly sinister and despicable.
He might not spend that much time on screen but he still makes an impression.
Here, Woods more than holds his own alongsidethe cast of Scorsese regulars, which is no small feat.
He also improvised a lot of his lines, producing a lot of quirky, natural moments.
Haldeman, one of Nixon’s closest aides during the Watergate scandal.
Stone initially hadEd Harrisin mind for the role, but Woods reportedly talked the director into casting him.
The character of Haldeman isn’t inherently cinematic and could have been very boring, but Woods enlivens him.
Woods expertly conveys Haldeman’s pragmatic cunning, highlighting the toxic dynamics of that White House.
He also has a nice dynamic with Hopkins; the pair seem to have enjoyed working together.
His voice and diction drip with self-satisfaction and arrogance.
He rightly received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod for his efforts.
Let me tell you something.
The laws gonna get you one way or another.
“The Onion Fieldwas Wood’s breakout movie.
Woods playsGregory Powell, the cold-blooded mastermind behind the crime.
He’s menacing, unpredictable, electric.
WhileLost in Translationtends to get all the attention,Sofia Coppola’s debutThe Virgin Suicidesis also a fantastic film.
Woods is Mr. Lisbon, the quiet, reserved father of the household.
His performance is subtle and resigned, underscoring the movie’s air of repression and despair.
In Las Vegas, two best friends — a casino executive and a mafia enforcer — compete for a gambling empire and a fast-living, fast-loving socialite.
From here,the movie morphs into a gonzo body horror and technological cautionary tale.
The movie’s razor-sharp commentary on the media has only grown more irrelevant in the decades since.
Woods rises to the occasion, however, making Max simultaneously authentic, flawed, sleazy, and compelling.
It cleans out my lungs.”
Reportedly, 200 actors were auditioned for the part of Max before it eventually went to Woods.
“It was a great compliment to have Sergio Leone say you make me a better director!”
1’Salvador' (1986)
“You got to get close to get the truth.”
He turns in his most impressive performance here asRichard Boyle, a cynical photojournalist covering the Salvadoran Civil War.
Boyle is desperate to find meaning in a world descending into chaos.
He struggles to navigate the horrors of the conflict - and his own moral failures.
He finds at least some kind of redemption amidst the mayhem, though it’s perhaps too late.
Woods does most of the heavy lifting, proving himself as an indispensable asset.
NEXT:The 10 Most Disappointing Movies of 2024, Ranked
Image Via Universal Pictures
Image via Warner Bros.
A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan 35 years later, where he must once again confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.
Image via MGM
In the midst of a violent civil conflict in El Salvador, an American photojournalist and his local friend navigate the dangers of war to expose human rights abuses to the international community. Their journey through contested territories reveals the harsh realities of war, challenging their ethics and risking their lives for truth.
