Michael Madsen vs. Tom Sizemore
Battle of the Gruff Goons

You're watching a movie and that guy comes on, the one who plays criminals, or overzealous criminal-catchers -- the one with the gruff voice but the kindly eyes, the one who could maybe stand to drop a few pounds but who's still pretty attractive in that way that men are in the movies when you don't know whether they want to rob the leading lady's house, or bend her back and kiss her full on the mouth, or both. Well, it could as easily be Michael Madsen as it could Tom Sizemore. Sure, Madsen cut that poor cop's ear off in Reservoir Dogs, but he also found girlfriend Louise (Susan Sarandon) when she was on the lam in Thelma and Louise, and remembered that her eyes were brown. As for Sizemore, sure, he built his career on heavies like crazed cop Jack Scagnetti (Natural Born Killers), professional thief Michael Cheritto (Heat) and Teflon Don John Gotti (Witness to the Mob), but now he's building credits with characters who are every bit as gruff (but a lot less homicidal) in movies like Saving Private Ryan and Bringing out the Dead. If Madsen sticks to playing violent weirdos like Mr. Blonde and Mr. Chapel of the recent TV series Vengeance Unlimited, there may be room for them both to thrive.

Advantage: Sizemore has the edge, but Madsen is still better-looking. Too soon to call.