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Real Men Movie Marathon: Christopher Walken Edition

January 22, 2010 by Svetlana

Since all I ever do is sit around and talk about how I don’t get to write about movies enough, AND it is a slowish Friday on the other side of the BYT rainbow, it is as good of a time any to start a new column. It is exactly what the title says and I get to kick it off today with one of my favorite actor (and dancers) of all time: the incomparable Christopher Walken.
Cool?
Cool.
Netflix queues at the ready, this is what (in my opinion) you need to see to learn to love Walken more:

The Deer Hunter

Walken, who prior to this was trying to catch a break in Broadway musicals, plays Nikanor Chevotarevich “Nik”, a steelworker who gets irrevocably damaged in Vietnam. It is one of the hardest movies to watch, probably ever, so I like to stick to the first half: the wedding, the unrequited love for Meryl Streep, and this scene (click here to watch, embedding is forbidden):

Pennies from Heaven

I don’t think anyone would venture to say Pennies in Heaven, the 1981 musical flop starring Walken, Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters is a good movie, but did I mention it stars Walken, Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters? It does get to showcase some of Walken’s musical roots and is full of guilty pleasures like this rendition of Cole Porter’s “Lets Misbehave”

King Of New York

Abel Ferrara’s (who also brought us “Bad Lieutenant”) probably most stylish film in which Walken returns from prison with a vengeance and wipe out his drug lord competition. He also gets to dance again, showing that even in one of the most violent movies ever made, a man that can move is appreciated no matter what.

Batman Returns

Probably the beginning of that “over the top” campy persona Walken is best known for now. Wearing an unfortunate white wig, stripey suits (is it Beetlejuice tribute day?) and cufflinks made out of human molars Max Shreck holds his own against probably the best Batman movie cast villains ever: Danny de Vitto as Penguin and Michelle Pheiffer as Catwoman.

True Romance

Because that scene about Sicilians is one of the best pieces of writing Tarantino ever did and no one could deliver it as well as Walken. Watch, listen, learn: At the risk of sounding reduntant, please make your answers genuine

Pulp Ficton

Not even a minute and a man you’ll never forget. This is Captain Koons, he was in the POW camp with you dad….

The Prophecy

Suicide Kings

I always felt this movie was underrated (unless you all love it and no one knows). Walken shines like a beacon of calm and cool as a big time mafia boss who gets kidnapped by a bunch of kids, who, frankly should know better. The ending is great.

And after this, I was a goner. Yes he was amazing in “Catch me if you can” and probably the best thing about “Envy” and a myriad of other shitty movies that now hire him for that “Oh look, its that crazy Christopher Walken” moment they need for some edge, but the movies above are, basically, why I love him.

+ this:

If you think I missed something, you know where to let me know……(in the comments)

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