10 Badass Supporting Characters That OWNED The Film

3. Christopher Walken - Nikanor "Nick" Chevotarevich in The Deer Hunter (1978)

NickThe Deer Hunter cleaned up at the 1979 Oscars, winning 5 of its 9 nominated categories including Best Picture, Best Director and of course Best Supporting Actor. That title went to Christopher Walken for his outstanding performance as small-town steel worker and army corporal, Nick Chevotarevich, who remains to this day one of the best supporting characters in cinema history. When I think of The Deer Hunter, Walken€™s portrayal of the psychologically damaged Nick is the first thing that pops into my head. In a film that features Hollywood greats such as Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep, I find it amazing that Walken manages to put such a strong and memorable stamp on all of his scenes. Don€™t get me wrong, De Niro is sensational as the films protagonist Michael Vronsky but it€™s what Walken does to create such a rich, muti-layered character that, in my opinion, makes The Deer Hunter the great movie it is. You can€™t talk about The Deer Hunter and not mention its two most pivotal scenes in which Nick and Michael are forced to play Russian roulette against one another €“ both scenes giving us a very sincere insight into the deep bond the two men share. The first features a completely distraught performance by Walken of a man at breaking point. The second is a haunting portrayal of a monster too far past that point for redemption. The twisted smirk on Nick€™s face as Michael, a man that was once his best friend, pulls the trigger of the revolver resting on his temple is as tense a moment as I€™ve ever seen. And when Walken laughs €œone shot€ I€™m sure my heart broke just a little.
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Contributor

Ben is a Writer/Musician from Melbourne, Australia who has an unhealthy addiction to film, TV and music. Currently based in Brooklyn, New York, Mackie spends his time gigging and writing music and short fiction. www.benrmackie.com