M. Emmet Walsh: 10 Best Roles, Ranked According to Rotten Tomatoes

Fans might recognize M. Emmet Walsh from his supporting roles in legendary movies. Viewers might recognize his performance in Blood Simple, one of the Coen Brothers’ highest-rated movies. However, the actor has appeared in dozens of films since the late 1960s and continues on today.

Walsh’s roles may not always be front-and-center, but he performs in some of the most iconic films of the past several decades. From Blade Runner to Serpico, fans have taken to Rotten Tomatoes to rate M. Emmet Walsh’s best movies.

What’s Up, Doc? (89%)

Peter Bogdanovich presents a romantic comedy from the early 1970s with What’s Up, Doc? The movie follows the story of Judy Maxwell and Howard Bannister as they get wrapped up in a wacky adventure on a business trip to San Francisco.

Fans rate What’s Up, Doc? as one of Peter Bogdanovich’s best movies. Viewers might say it showcases a cartoonish comedy. M. Emmet Walsh plays an Arresting Officer. The figure of authority would be reflected in some of Walsh’s future roles.

Ordinary People (89%)

Ordinary People presents Robert Redford’s directorial debut. It is a drama following a midwestern family. After tragedy befalls one of the family’s children, and a near-fatal event affects the other, the events of the film unfold.

M. Emmet Walsh plays Coach Salan. Fans of the movie might say its accolades speak for itself, having won several awards from prestigious film organizations. Others might say it showcases several memorable performances.

Calvary (89%)

Calvary is a drama from the mid-2010s. The movie follows the story of Father James, a priest at a parish in Ireland. After he is threatened by a man in confessional, he must grapple with the possibility of dying at the hands of one of his followers.

M. Emmet Walsh plays an American writer, Gerald Ryan, who confides in James as he faces the struggles of old age. Fans of Calvary perhaps say it is a unique story showcasing the beauty of Ireland and the U.K.

Blade Runner (89%)

Film fans know Blade Runner as one of the most celebrated sci-fi films of all time. The story follows Rick Deckard in a dystopian future where artificial intelligence has advanced to becoming nearly indecipherable from human beings.

Blade Runner is one of Ridley Scott’s highest-rated films. M. Emmet Walsh plays Bryant. Bryant is Deckard’s former supervisor who tasks him with hunting down a replicant and setting off the events of the movie. Viewers perhaps say Blade Runner‘s rating is unsurprising, considering its legacy.

Serpico (91%)

Serpico showcases Al Pacino in one of his most famous roles. He plays Detective Frank Serpico. He is tasked with an undercover assignment in New York City. In the process, he discovers the corrupt actions of the NYPD and is forced to face a harrowing moral quandary.

M. Emmet Walsh plays Gallagher. Viewers might say Serpico has an ethereal feel with a distinct pace, making it a unique crime thriller. Others might point to the fascinating true story on which the film is based as a reason for its high rating.

Raising Arizona (91%)

Raising Arizona presents an action-comedy starring Nic Cage. Some fans say Raising Arizona is one of Cage’s best movies. He plays H.I. “Hi” McDunnough. After learning he and his wife are unable to conceive, they kidnap the child of a wealthy business magnate.

M. Emmet Walsh performs a small role in Raising Arizona. He is credited as Machine Shop Ear-Bender. Fans of the movie perhaps say it is fun, funny, and entertaining. Others may say it presents several memorable performances.

Blood Simple (93%)

The Coen Brothers present their directorial debut with Blood Simple. The neo-noir follows an unhappy marriage between Abby and Marty. Their situation becomes deadly after Marty hires a private detective, Loren Visser, to kill Abby and her lover Ray.

M. Emmet Walsh plays Visser. Viewers might say Visser is one of Walsh’s most recognizable roles. Others perhaps say the movie is highly-rated because of the film’s effective storytelling and mood, foreshadowing the Coens’ lengthy career.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut (93%)

Diehard fans of Blade Runner know the film has multiple versions. The theatrical version of the movie was released in the early 1980s, while the Director’s Cut was released in the early 1990s. Blade Runner: The Final Cut came to audiences in the late 2000s.

M. Emmet Walsh’s role is consistent in The Final Cut, playing Bryant. Devotees of this version of Blade Runner might say it is the best of the film’s several cuts.

The Iron Giant (96%)

The Iron Giant is an animated adventure story. The narrative is driven by the protagonist, Hogarth Hughes. Hogarth is a young boy who befriends a giant robot. As their relationship develops, Hogarth must help protect the Iron Giant from outside forces looking to take it down.

M. Emmet Walsh plays Earl Stutz. He is a sailor who sees the Iron Giant land on Earth. Viewers might say the movie is underrated and showcases an interesting and sweet science-fiction story.

The Music Of Chance (100%)

The Music of Chance is a drama movie from the early 1990s. It follows Jack Pozzi and Jim Nashe. The two get wrapped up in a high-stakes poker game with some mysterious and wealthy men. When they lose several games, the events of the film unfold.

M. Emmet Walsh plays Calvin Murks. Murks is the foreman on the wealthy men’s estate and quickly becomes an antagonist in the story. Fans of the movie might say it is rated highly because of its thrilling script and nuanced performances.

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