Often cited as one of the defining “character actors” of the post-’90s wave of crime cinema, Michael Madsen was a truly electrifying performer who had the ability to elevate any project he was in, regardless of its quality or fame. Perhaps the ill-fated remake of the Steve McQueen film “The Getaway” or the James Bond film “Die Another Day” wouldn’t be listed as cinematic classics. Still, Madsen brought a sense of specificity and menace to his performances that made them far more entertaining than they had any right to be.
Although his credits included dozens of B-movies, many of which could be described as “guilty pleasures,” Madsen also appeared in some of the most defining and acclaimed films of their era. While he was best known for his collaborations with Quentin Tarantino, a filmmaker whose love for exploitation thrillers and classic cinema made him an excellent partner, Madsen had a surprisingly eclectic filmography and has been remembered for different things among various generations of moviegoers. Perhaps his role in the “Free Willy” films didn’t earn him the same popularity as the cult classic “Species” franchise, but both parts showed that Madsen was game to take a chance on any material he found to be interesting.
Beyond the big screen, Madsen amassed an impressive array of television credits and gave memorable guest performances on beloved shows like “24,” “Blue Bloods,” “Quantum Leap,” “CS: Miami,” “Hawaii Five-Oh,” and “Miami Vice,” among many others. Here are the best Michael Madsen films, ranked.
7. “Kill Bill Vol. 1” (2003) and “Kill Bill Vol. 2” (2004)
One of the most important achievements in action filmmaking in the 21st century, the “Kill Bill” duology helped to introduce American audiences to the East Asian style of martial arts combat and sword fighting. No revenge epic would be complete without a terrifying villain, and Madsen perfectly embodied the role of the titular antagonist Bill, whose violent ways inspired The Bride (Uma Thurman) to take part in her epic quest of vengeance. Given the many memorable members of the rogue’s gallery that appeared in “Kill Bill Vol. 1,” it was genuinely astounding that Madsen was able to give the second entry in the series such a showstopping finish.
The “Kill Bill” films lack the rhythmic, snarky dialogue that had made early Tarantino films like “Pulp Fiction” and “Jackie Brown” so terrific. Still, Madsen adapted to the changes by giving a very physically imposing performance. Much of the character was heightened in order to fit within the over-the-top style of filmmaking that had so clearly inspired Tarantino, but it never turned into a caricature thanks to the presence that Madsen brought to the screen; Bill was a character of interiority, who felt like he could exist outside of the confines of the story at hand.
Many would cite Thurman’s performance as one of the best to ever be snubbed by the Oscars, as the Academy Awards refused to acknowledge either film. While Thurman was certainly deserving of a second nomination after “Pulp Fiction,” Madsen was equally worthy within the Best Supporting Actor category.
6. “Sin City” (2005)
A recurring issue within comic book adaptations is that they don’t take advantage of the medium and feature a bland visual style that doesn’t honor the more interesting art style of the source material. This absolutely could not be said of “Sin City,” Robert Rodriguez’s epic adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel by Frank Miller.
By using black-and-white, stylized visuals, “Sin City” brought the gritty ethos of a classic noir to life, all whilst adding a visceral sense of action and gore. Although there were many memorable storylines within the anthology film, Madsen had a standout performance as the corrupt Detective Bob, who runs afoul of the honorable law enforcement officer John Hartigan (Bruce Willis).
Willis and Madsen were perfectly suited to be screen partners, as they both proved to be surprisingly nuanced actors who could do more than play into the personas that their most iconic roles had cultivated. The rivalry between Bob and John is among the most electrifying in “Sin City,” as both men are at the end of very taxing careers, and have given up hope about the notion of redemption.
While Madsen was tasked with giving a sinister, cruel performance, there was nothing about the film that lionized the villainy of Bob; he was a thoroughly nasty character until the end. Although there were many reasons why Rodriguez’s follow-up, the 2014 sequel “Sin City: A Dame To Kill For,” was a disappointment, the absence of Madsen in a major role was chief among them.
5. “The Hateful Eight” (2015)
Despite being a box office success and earning several Academy Award nominations (including a Best Original Score win for the legendary composer Ennio Morricone), “The Hateful Eight” is among the most underappreciated entries in Tarantino’s filmography. It’s a beautiful, meticulously crafted throwback to the epic westerns of Howard Hawks and John Ford, but within the confines of an icy cabin, Tarantino crafted a nifty, tricky noir in which every character is hiding something about their past.
While Tarantino regulars like Samuel L. Jackson and Tim Roth did great work, Madsen was a particular standout as the cowboy Joe Gage, who shares a deadly connection with the outlaw Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and her brother Jody (Channing Tatum). Madsen’s meticulous nature was on display in “The Hateful Eight,” as Joe is often forced to trade silent looks at his fellow outlaws as they question which wild direction the night will take next.
Although there’s a subtlety to the ways in which Madsen approaches the character in the beginning, a series of flashbacks after the intermission that contextualize the preceding events shine a light on what brilliant work he had been doing. “The Hateful Eight” did not offer a cathartic moment of restorative vengeance in the same way that “Django Unchained” or “Inglourious Basterds” did, so it is not all that surprising that it didn’t receive the same fanfare. Nonetheless, the film’s dark, cynical outlook on the violence and inhumanity that was inherent to the American “Wild West” was only solidified by Madsen in one of the most disturbing performances he ever gave.
4. “The Doors” (1991)
Oliver Stone’s wild biopic about the life of Van Morrison may have been better received today in an era where films about the lives of musicians have become blockbuster events, as “The Doors” is far more experimental and interesting than more generic entries in the genre, such as “Back to Black,” “Bob Marley: One Love,” or “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
It’s a sad year for fans of the underrated film, as the late great performance by Val Kilmer as Morrison should have earned him the same awards attention that was granted to Rami Malek’s role as Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody” or Timothee Chalamet’s turn as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.” “The Doors” is an interesting study about the era from which Morrison originated, and Madsen offered a scene-stealing performance as Tom Baker, the eccentric actor who counted himself within Andy Warhol’s inner circle.
Stone often assembles mighty casts in which big names can make the most of small roles, and “The Doors” includes an amazing ensemble that features Frank Whaley, Kyle MacLachlan, Billy Idol, Meg Ryan, Wes Studi, Paul Williams, and Mimi Rogers among others. Madsen seemed to be cut from the same cloth as Kilmer, as both actors managed to add a creative interpretation to figures that were already larger-than-life. Although “The Doors” was released right before Madsen’s collaborations with Tarantino turned him into a household name, his impressive performance would have been among the film’s standouts, regardless of the status of his career.
3. “Thelma & Louise” (1991)
Although Ridley Scott is responsible for films like “Alien,” “Blade Runner,” “Gladiator,” and “Black Hawk Down,” which changed the shape of cinema forever, there may not be any of his projects that were ahead of their time like “Thelma & Louise.” In an era where Hollywood was even more terrified of female empowerment than it is today, Scott crafted a feminist adventure epic about the friendship between the titular heroines, played brilliantly by Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon.
There aren’t a whole lot of redeeming male characters in “Thelma & Louise,” but Madsen offers a surprisingly sympathetic performance as Jimmy Lennox, who is introduced as the boyfriend of Sarandon’s Louise. It’s typical for a masculine Hollywood film to feature the “hapless wife” character that is saddled with being on the sidelines of the action, and Madsen’s role is a gender-swapped inverse of this archetype. There’s a tragedy to the fact that Louise and Jimmy were prevented from having a successful relationship due to the film’s disturbing events, but the chemistry between Madsen and Sarandon is strong enough to make their bond resonate throughout the entire story.
It was a brilliant casting decision to select Madsen, someone known for playing scoundrels and tough guys, and allow him to play a tender, heartbreaking character who is forced to speculate about the trouble that his wife gets into. It’s a film that has been celebrated for its boldness of vision, but modern praise for “Thelma & Louise” should include Madsen as one of the bold collaborators who made it so perfect.
2. “Donnie Brasco” (1997)
In what easily became one of the greatest undercover cop films ever made, “Donnie Brasco” brought to life the fascinating true story of the FBI Agent Joseph Pistone (Johnny Depp), who infiltrated the crime organization fronted by Benjamin Ruggiero (Al Pacino), who was known by his mafia accomplices as “Lefty.”
While Lefty proves to be a surprisingly warm figure who ends up inviting Joseph to be part of his extended “family,” Madsen played the tough-as-nails “made man” Sonny Black, who becomes a key part of the crew as the investigation heightens. Madsen brought to life a wiry, unpredictable nature that made the tension of the film even more pressing; considering that Sonny was known to lash out at anyone who crossed him, the pressure is put on Joseph to not break his cover.
Sonny’s ruthlessness speaks to the vast difference in the public perception of the mob and what it is like in its actuality, as he does not contain any of the honorable chivalry that any member of the Corleone family does in “The Godfather.” Depp and Pacino are both actors who have become known for their ability to chew the scenery, but in a film where they are both asked to do more subtle work, Madsen was given the opportunity to chew the scenery as a character with a haphazard aptitude for danger. There’s a difference between manufactured tension and legitimate menace, and Madsen brought a sense of danger to “Donnie Brasco” that made Mike Newell’s woefully underrated crime masterpiece even more urgent and electrifying.
1. “Reservoir Dogs” (1992)
While his resume is filled with underrated gems, it’s impossible to discuss Madsen’s legacy without mentioning “Reservoir Dogs.” Tarantino’s micro-budget directorial debut took Hollywood by storm with its novel approach to telling a heist movie where the robbery is never depicted, as it instead chose to look at the duplicitous, double-crossing nature of the enigmatic criminals involved. In a cast that included acclaimed stars like Harvey Keitel and Steve Buscemi, Madsen brought his signature, effortlessly cool sensibilities to the role of Mr. Blonde, who graphically tortures a police officer in the film’s most memorable scene.
Compromising has never been something Tarantino has been capable of, as “Reservoir Dogs” bucks conventions from its opening scene, in which the criminals engage in a spirited debate about the merits of tipping. Madsen excels at the rapid-fire, snarky dialogue that Tarantino does so well, but Blonde has a foreboding sense of intellectualism that precludes him from revealing anything that could point to his true identity. While action and one-liners are critical to why “Reservoir Dogs” became one of the first independent films to break out and become a mainstream success, Madsen was also able to give a physically impressive performance.
The now iconic “Stuck in the Middle With You” scene has become so ingrained within the public consciousness that it is easy to forget how bold and transgressive it was for theater goers at the time. Madsen was able to take the film in a direction that was shocking, terrifying, hilarious, and surreal, all at once. He was an actor who had countless names within many great films, but Madsen will always be known best as Mr. Blonde.
