Christopher Walken turned 73 yesterday and in celebration of
the actor’s birthday I am going to do a very quick list of his top 10
performances. Now in a long and storied career that includes credits of
appearing in 129 films and playing a bevy of strange and often psychologically
unhinged characters, there is always going to be some debate over what should
be included.
10. Romance and
Cigarettes 2005
While most people may suggest his role in the musical
Hairspray, I prefer this even more offbeat musical which has Walken doing a performance
of Tom Jones “Delilah.” By the way, the film was written, produced, and
directed by another offbeat performer in John Turturro.
9. Biloxi Blues 1988
This one sees Walken play a slightly unhinged drill sergeant
putting Matthew Broderick and a group of recruits through boot camp in Biloxi,
Mississippi during World War II.
8. At Close Range 1986
A crime drama that was based on a real life Pennsylvania
crime family, Walken plays the head of a crime family that sees his two sons (Sean
and Chris Penn) get involved. There are strong performances all around and it
received critical acclaim, but did not fare well at the box office.
7. Seven Psychopaths
2012
His performance in this is being picked over The Prophecy
solely on the one scene that is linked here, where he refuses to put his hands
up. Walken plays the eccentric Hans and is just hilarious throughout the entire
film, totally deadpan and is almost a self-parody of himself.
6. Pulp Fiction 1994
He’s only appears in one-scene about the gold watch, but the combination of
Walken and Tarantino’s witty dialogue creates one of the most memorable scenes
of the movie.
5. Pennies From
Heaven 1981
Who else are you going to get to play a singing and dancing pimp;
Walken had been training for this type of a role since he was a kid. The film
was a box office flop because it was more serious role Steve Martin, but it has
since gained a cult following.
4. King of New York
1990
Walken plays a crime drug lord who has just been released
from prison and is looking to take back the empire he had left behind, while
also deciding to try and help rebuild a hospital in his old neighborhood. This
one kind of got lost in the mix because of its dark and gritty style and its
direction by Abel Ferrara, who had a reputation for making dark and
controversial movies. Regardless, this is one of Walken’s best performances and
somewhat of a cult classic.
3. The Dead Zone 1983
A story from Stephen King directed by David Cronenberg that
features a superb and haunting performance from Walken, possibly his most
underrated. He plays a man who awakens from a coma and discovers that he has a
psychic ability to see future events when he touches people. The film won a
Saturn award for best horror film and Walken was nominated for Best Actor.
2. Catch Me if You
Can 2002
Walken received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best
Supporting Actor, for his portrayal of Frank Abagnale Sr. The film is based
upon the real life events of Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio), who ends
up being hunted down by the FBI primarily for check fraud. Walken gives a
moving performance, especially in the last scene where he realizes he will
probably never see his son again.
The Deer Hunter 1978
This is truly an epic masterpiece of a film about a group of
friends living in a small industrial town in Pennsylvania and how their lives
are impacted by the Vietnam War. The film went on to win five Academy Awards
for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, Best Editing, and Best Supporting
Actor for Walken. It had other amazing performances from Robert DeNiro, Meryl
Streep, and John Cazale. It is best remembered for the iconic Russian roulette
scene involving Walken and DeNiro. If you have never seen this before, it truly
is a must see film.
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