Woods played Max , a domineering gangster , in Sergio Leone 's epic '' Once Upon a Time in America '' ( 1984 ) alongside Robert De Niro , Elizabeth McGovern , Joe Pesci and Danny Aiello . Woods considers his role in the film as one of his favorites . The film premiered at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival and received a 15 minute standing ovation . Rotten Tomatoes reports an 86 % approval rating with the consensus reading , " Sergio Leone 's epic crime drama is visually stunning , stylistically bold , and emotionally haunting , and filled with great performances from the likes of Robert De Niro and James Woods . " In Oliver Stone 's drama '' Salvador '' ( 1986 ) , Woods portrayed real-life journalist Rick Boyle as he chronicles events in El Salvador . Despite giving it a mixed review Roger Ebert wrote in the '' Chicago Sun-Times '' , " This is the sort of role Woods was born to play " . He won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor . He also received his first Academy Award nomination for his performance
1984 Cannes Film Festival
1984 Cannes Film Festival
James Woods