He's played Ray Charles (to Oscar-winning effect), Bats, Motherf**ker Jones, Django, Ricardo Tubbs, and the President of the United States Of America. But this week Jamie Foxx — for it is he — faces his greatest challenge yet: appearing on the Empire Podcast. OK, we may have oversold it. But in a fun and insightful interview with our Chris Hewitt, Foxx talks about his new movie, Just Mercy, in which he plays a prisoner who's wrongfully imprisoned on Death Row. Give it a listen to hear Foxx talk about his views on the death penalty; do a quick tour of some of the most iconic voices he's used in his career; and reveal the advice Ellen Barkin once gave him.
Then, back in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to talk about this week's Oscars nominations (spoiler: Helen isn't happy, and gets a little bit sweary, about one nominee in particular), discuss the best film in the Academy Awards 11-nominations club, pore over the rest of the week's movie news, including Scott Derrickson's departure from Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness and Billie Eilish performing No Time To Die's title song, and review Bombshell, Just Mercy and Bad Boys For Life, which already may have the 2020's surprising movie award sewn up.
Oh, and there's much talk of Gwyneth Paltrow's brand new candle. Be warned. Enjoy.
Listen to the episode in the player above, on Apple Podcasts, or on your podcast app of choice.