American Badass [Perfect Paperback]

Michael Madsen (Author), Michael P. Naughton (Editor), Donna Novak (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2009

American Badass follows the success of The Complete Poetic Works of Michael Madsen, Vol I: 1995-2005 (c. 2005 13 Hands Publications) and Signs of Life ( c. 2006 13 Hands Publications). This is Madsens anticipated eight book of new poetry selections which features never before seen candid celebrity shots and badass photos from his movies off and on the sets.

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About the Author

Michael Madsen is a world renowned actor and poet born September 25, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois. The son of Elaine Madsen, Emmy-winning poet, producer and playwright whose work has aired on NBC and PBS, and Calvin Madsen, a retired Chicago fireman. Madsen's paternal grandparents were Danish and his mother has Irish and Native American ancestry. His sisters are Oscar nominated actress Virginia Madsen and writer Cheri, who owns a restaurant with her husband in Genoa City Wisconsin. Madsen's youth was characterized by unfortunate events: at age eleven, his parents divorced, he changed schools several times and served a brief jail sentence. Madsen's acting career started at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, where he served as an apprentice actor under John Malkovich. Soon after his apprenticeship, he was cast in a small role in his first movie War Games (1983). He moved to Los Angeles and appeared in a series of minor film roles, including playing baseball player Bump Bailey in The Natural, a deranged killer in Kill Me Again (1989), and Susan Sarandon's tough but touching boyfriend in Thelma & Louise (1991). He played a razor-wielding, sadistic ex-con and jewel thief Mr. Blonde in the film Reservoir Dogs. The film gained attention among film critics and fans, as did Madsen's performance and the brutality of his character. During the scene in Reservoir Dogs where Michael Madsen's character, Mr. Blonde, tortures Officer Nash, actor Kirk Baltz ad-libbed a line about being father of a young child. Madsen, who himself had just become a father, was so upset by this line that he had difficulty finishing the scene. On some copies of the DVD, as Baltz completes the line, a voice can be heard off-screen saying, Oh, no, no. The ad-lib also compounded his reluctance to do the scene to begin with, due to his aversion to violence. Subsequently, Madsen was cast in a variety of supporting roles in major studio films, including Free Willy, Mulholland Falls, Species, and the critically-acclaimed Donnie Brasco. Madsen has appeared in several television series, including Vengeance Unlimited and most recently as Don Everest in the poker-themed ESPN series Tilt. He appeared in Michael Jackson's 2001 music video You Rock My World and has provided voice work for several video games, including Grand Theft Auto III, True Crime: Streets of L.A., and Driver 3. He provided voice work for the movie of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as Maugrim the wolf, captain of the White Witch's secret police. Awards Include: April 6th, 2008 presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 9th Annual Malibu International Film Festival March 1st, 2007 presented with the Method Fest. Film Festival's Maverick Award September 20th, 2007 won Best Actor award at the 23rd Annual Boston Film Festival for his role as Sean Kelleher in Strength and Honor. September 2007 - Was presented with the outstanding achievement award in acting at the 13th annual Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 140 pages
• Publisher: 13 Hands Publications; 1st edition (September 25, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097672605X
• ISBN-13: 978-0976726050
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,467,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Badass & Poetry?, January 3, 2010

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Nero Ragno "creator of "She of the Forbid... (The Forbidden Zone) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: American Badass (Hardcover)

Who would have thought that Michael Madsen's turbulent soul possessed a spirituality that was so searching? Carradine's prologue sums up Madsen. Madsen's poem about Carradine reminds me of a poem written by another Badass who lived 3,000 years ago. That Badass killed a giant, cut off his head, and hung it on a pole outside his hut. And he also wrote a eulogy about his dead brother, Jonathan. Madsen and King David both emote over separations, memories, loss, grief, and God's will. Madsen's poetry is about his personal feelings through his life's experiences - not just about a flower or a rainbow's place in God's creation. He is personal yet abstract. Not every icon opens himself up to the public as Madsen has. I hope he gets back with Tarantino and makes more movies with him - good scripts please.