Movie Review for Walking Tall (2004)

Directed by: Kevin Bray
Starring: The Rock, Neal McDonough, Johnny Knoxville, John Beasley, Ashley Scott
Rated: PG-13
Runs 87 min

Saw Walking Tall yesterday, despite the fact that it doesn't come out in Paris until the 23rd. ;) There was no doubt that The Rock was Hulk in miniature, and the movie was centered around it, which was sort of typical. The good thing about the movie was that it was based on a true story (that of Sheriff Buford Pusser), but everything that goes through the Hollywood filter undoubtedly gets skewed. The Rock was quite good in his acts as Chris Vaughn, the sergeant back from military service who comes home to find that his home isn't home anymore, overtaken by his former childhood friend Jay (Neal McDonough), who's turned the town into a haven for criminal acts. Even the sheriff is on the bribe, refusing to take law to Chris's side as he tries to set things straight. After one brawl at the infamous casino (that Jay owns) leaves him on the road left for dead, Chris takes matters into his own hands. Things get worse when Pete, Chris's nephew, gets hurt doing drugs, drugs that Chris finds out to be funneled to the kids in the neighborhood by the security staff at the casino. His anger released on the casino members (6 men toppled over like bowling pins by the Rock, hows that for action eh?), he finds himself on trial but is eventually acquitted and in a matter of movie frames becomes elected Sheriff. Together with his Jack Nicholson lookalike pal Ray (Johnny Knoxville), they set things back as they were in the old days. Typical that the Rock should use a piece of cedar for his choice of weapon, rather than a gun. Take note also of several phrases that are repeated by different people that give somewhat an ironic nature to the movie: "This changes our relationship a bit, huh", "This is my town" and "That's how it starts.. see next thing you know you'll be accepting bribes, setting speed traps all over town, cutting up trucks, you know how you are..."
The most hilarious part was perhaps when Ray and Chris tear up (don't know who he is) s brand new truck on a hunch. (another of the shadowy drug-wielding characters). Click here to see a pic of Jay and his chainsaw on the first lamp of the truck. Click here to see Jay falling on the hood of the car while tearing it to pieces. (I wonder how much the movie crew spent on the truck just so that they could tear it apart?)

As for the authenticity of the story, Kitsap County, Washington (as noted on Sheriff Vaughns' truck) is not where the original Sheriff was (he was in McNairy County, Tennessee), so there goes a bit of the "Based on a true story". Oh, and to anyone who's seen the movie, could you tell me who the person indicated by the arrow in this picture is? Pete? or just a movie crew caught in the film? 3 out of 5 stars. Some areas unexplained, and the story is a bit too good to be true. (The transition from being the accused to sheriff was one of the too good parts).

Written on Sunday, July 11 at 7:16 PM