@mechajutaro said:

Would be perhaps more seemly to wait till the lad was 18 or older, nevertheless hardly an advertisement for NAMBLA. Wood's is on his way to being the so-called right's answer to Ashley Judd and Lena Dunham, proof that actors are most likely wise to not utter words that haven't been written for them.

The age of consent in Italy is 14, and I do feel that to remain true to the spirit of the book Elio's age remains at 17. He is a worldly character and in many ways the instigator of what is not in any way a predatory relationship with the older man.

I think the most obvious problem is with the apparent ages of the actors - Timothee Chalamet, in his twenties, could pass for 17 with ease while Armie Hammer, portraying a 24 year old, looks older even than his actual age of 29.

Anyway, as you say, James Woods should learn to keep his mouth shut and will do himself few favours with this kind of outburst. Actress Amber Tamblyn has subsequently chimed in with accusations about Woods himself:

Fox news

@mechajutaro said:

I'll defend Woods's on one count, namely that he's just no less free than any of us to post whatever he wants on Twitter, short of anything libelous of course. Goes without saying, anyone who's words aren't well thought out is fair game for the inevitable blowback.

Absolutely agree with this. It's purely in his own favour to take care which thoughts or opinions he makes public.

James Woods is a legend on screen AND in reality.

@Gus Gorman said:

James Woods is a legend on screen AND in reality.

not the topic of discussion, but he is an actor who acts well.