Citizen cohn is a 1992 cable film covering the life of joseph mccarthys controversial chief counsel roy cohn. Wilsons career and his domestic life are in tatters when he meets dr. I havent seen all the movies hes been in, but this is the best james woods since citizen cohen, i think. No doubt cohn led a extremely colourful life, and although the author does now and again mention his criminal behaviour, cohn nevertheless comes across as a more or less a a likeable rogue. The mcmartin trial 1995, the summer of ben tyler 1996 e dirty pictures 2000. James woods playing roy cohn in the movie, citizen cohn. As senator joe mccarthys righthand man in the communist witchhunts of the 1950s, he disrupted many more lives. All the time hes on screen, he comes across as the usual james woods angry sob character that hes been playing for years. Hbo thought roy cohn an intriguing enough character to fund this shrill 1992 effort starring the venerable james woods as citizen cohn. Citizen cohn tv movie 1992 citizen cohn tv movie 1992.
In the 1940s and early 50s, cohn became one of the most powerful men in. Jetset power broker roy cohn has been called the toughest, most brilliant lawyer in america. James woods gives a venomous, great performance like bob hoskins as hoover in oliver stones nixon. This book is strongest as a biography in its first chapters detailing cohns early life, particularly as regards his associations with his mother and with the story of his life is one of establishment criminality, doublestandards, deceit, exploitation, corruption and debauchery. We follow cohn s life his selfrighteous, contradictory, opportunistic, sleazy life from childhood to. James woods born april 18, 1947, american actor world. I read the book after seeing the movie with james woods as cohn and was equally enthralled and horrified.
Unfortunately, as good an actor as james woods is, he never seems to really grasp the essence of what roy cohn was. During the kennedy years, he fought their support of civil rights. James woods is marvellous as the psychopathic, ethical black hole, roy cohn in this biopic made by hbo. James woods calls out hypocritical hollywood for blacklisting him exclusive. His best known roles are videodrome 1983, once upon a time in america 1984, casino 1995, nixon 1995, contact 1997, as the voice of hades in disney s. Nathan lane is playing roy cohn, donald trumps lawyer duration. First taking the rosenbergs to trial as spies, ensuring he got them the death penalty. Citizen cohn by frank pierson frank pierson, james woods. A hallucinatory, impressionistic look at his career and life, the film is comprised of flashbacks by cohn, who is seen dying of aids in 1988 in his new york hospital bed. His most successful book was citizen cohn, which was on the timess bestseller lists for eight weeks in 1988 and inspired a 1992 movie of the same title starring james woods. Best performance by an actor in a miniseries or motion picture made for television my name is bill w.
Citizen cohn tv movie 1992 james woods as roy marcus. The movie tells us that young cohn quickly fell under the spell of his overbearing mother, an unnaturally close relationship that would last as long as she lived. James woods gives insight into his roles in diggstown and citizen cohn and describes the actors he admires. James howard woods born april 18, 1947 is an american actor, voice actor, and producer. I have rarely seen an actor who can play a bad guy the way that james woods can, this man is awesome in every way and they couldnt have picked a better man to play this real life meglomaniac and monster. Outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie. As one of the premier rare book sites on the internet, alibris has thousands of rare books, first editions, and signed books available. James woods plays roy cohn, a ruthless attorney who first took the rosenbergs to trial as spies, ensuring he got them the death penalty. Skillfully crafted made for tv film based on the life of lawyer roy cohn, citizen cohn features a terrific performance from actor james woods. Best actor in a supporting role ghosts of mississippi 1996 1987 nominee. Edgar hoover, it examines the true perverse and sinister nature of a respected public figure.
Frank piersons madeforcable adaptation of nicholas vonhoffmans biography, citizen cohn stars james woods as the controversial lawyer roy cohn. Cohn was a vile figure and woods manages to convey that perfectly and he delivers a fine performance here that is among his best. Citizen cohn vhs james woods joe don baker lee grant frederic forrest hbo video. The movie was filmed on location in pittsburgh, pennsylvania. Citizen cohn tv movie 1992 james woods as roy marcus cohn. James woods, who starred as cohn, was nominated for both an emmy and a golden globe for his performance. With james woods, jobeth williams, james garner, gary sinise. His most successful book was citizen cohn, which was on the times bestseller lists for eight weeks in 1988 and inspired a 1992 movie of the same title starring james woods. As lawyer and power broker roy cohn lies dying of aids in a private hospital room, ghosts from his past visit him as he reflects on his life and loves. Background actor james woods was born on april 18, 1947, in vernal, utah. A new documentary explores the secrets and lies of roy cohn.
Cohn is shown delighting in his persecution of whoever gets in his way, demanding and getting the death penalty for the rosenbergs, as joe mccarthys attackdog during his communist witchhunt, and later as a ruthless divorce attorney and political blackmailer. Like so many, however, cohn was corrupted by power and greed. I had forgotten i ever even read this book until the senator craig scandal broke. James woods stars in the title role of the hbo pictures biographical drama citizen cohn, making its debut saturday, exclusively on hbo. List of awards and nominations received by james woods. Now the new york times bestselling biography of cohn is being reissued to tie in with the major television motion picture premiering on hbo august 22, starring james woods. Roy cohn james woods was a brutal genius an attorney with a future and he knew it. Citizen cohn is like anthony sommers official and confidental. Roy cohn woods was the pit bull dog of a lawyer for senator joe mccarthy during the commie hunts of the 1950s and beyond. Citizen cohn also stars joe don baker, ed flanders, frederic forrest, and pat hingle. There may be a certain entertainment value to this book, rather like you find in any gossip column, but this is hardly a biography at all. Cohn died of aids, and his ending would almost be poetic were it not so horrible.
Woods is rehearsing a scene from citizen cohn, an hbo biomovie about roy cohn, the surly chief counsel to sen. To optimize your experience with your screen reading software, please use our website, which has the same tickets as our fandango. The movie itself is compelling and is told in flashback form from i havent seen all the movies hes been in, but this is the best james woods since citizen cohen, i think. With james woods, joe don baker, joseph bologna, ed flanders. Veteran actor james woods can add another credit to his resume. The film is structured as a series of flashbacks while cohn lies in a new york hospital dying of aids. James woods seems to find his most adventurous roles in television movies, particularly this madeforhbo biography of the late lawyer and powerbroker roy cohn. James howard woods was born on april 18, 1947 in vernal, utah, the son of martha a. Citizen cohn vhs james woods, joe don baker, joseph bologna see more like this. Joseph mccarthy who became a national household name and babyfaced pariah of. Tracking roy cohn s legacy, from the mccarthy era to the age of trump duration. I did a very famous movie called citizen cohn about what roy cohn did. Education intelligent, intense and charismatic, woods studied political science at the massachusetts institute of technology before dropping out to pursue an acting career. And well expect you to testify to a certain amount of this in public session.