3. Christopher Walken - Nikanor "Nick" Chevotarevich in The Deer Hunter (1978)
The 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, Walkens 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. Dont get me wrong, De Niro is sensational as the films protagonist Michael Vronsky but its 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 cant 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 Nicks 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 Ive ever seen. And when Walken laughs one shot Im sure my heart broke just a little.