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Walking Tall (2004 film)

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Wikipedia article




'Walking Tall' is a 2004 American action film directed by Kevin Bray. It is the remake of the 1973 film of the same name, and stars Dwayne Johnson (credited as The Rock) and Johnny Knoxville. The film revolves around a discharged U.S Army soldier, who returns to his hometown only to become the town's sheriff, when he finds that the town is laced with heinous crimes and corruption.

Plot



Honorably discharged U.S. Army Special Forces sergeant Chris Vaughn returns to his small home town in Kitsap County, Washington after a series of combat deployments. Looking for work, he finds the local cedar mill was closed down three years prior by its heir, Jay Hamilton, who opened a new casino that now accounts for the majority of revenue for the local area. Hamilton, who was also Chris's school friend, invites him to a night of fun at the casino. While checking out the VIP lounge, Chris stumbles upon his childhood friend Deni, who is now working as a stripper. Later, he notices the craps dealer using loaded dice and demonstrates this to the patrons by placing a bet and calling out the roll before throwing the dice. When the floorman declares no payout, Chris instigates a fight. Although he beats down most of the security guards, he is subsequently subdued with a cattle prod and knocked unconscious. The security staff take Chris into the basement and Hamilton's right-hand man and head of security Booth tortures him by cutting his torso with a utility knife before dumping him on a roadside.

Chris is found by a trucker and hospitalized, but recovers quickly. Chris goes to the sheriff, Stan Watkins, to press charges against the guards, but Sheriff Watkins refuses to allow him to do so because the casino is viewed as too important to the town's economy, stating that because of its position, the casino is considered a "no fly zone". Not long after this, Chris learns that his nephew, Pete, experimented with crystal meth, which was sold to his friends by the casino security guards. Infuriated, Chris arrives at the casino, and using a piece of lumber as a club, begins destroying casino property, and brutally beats the security guards when they attempt to stop him. Chris is apprehended by Sheriff Watkins and his deputies as he is driving away from the scene. In the ensuing trial, all of Hamilton's security and staff testify against Chris. When the judge allows Chris to present his defense, he fires his appointed attorney, who is implicitly under Hamilton's employ. After making a civic speech about the town's great former self. Chris tells the jury and the rest of the town that if he is cleared of the charges, he will run for sheriff and clean up the town.

To further emphasize his plea, Chris reveals the grotesque scars on his torso from being tortured by the casino staff, and is then acquitted and wins the election for sheriff. Upon taking office, Chris summarily dismisses the entire police force and deputizes his friend, Ray Templeton, whom Chris feels he can trust, as well as help Chris learn about narcotics (Templeton revealed earlier that he served time in prison after becoming a drug addict). Chris and Templeton plant drugs on Booth and they take him into custody. In an attempt to make him reveal information on the town drug operation, they hold him captive in a garage and proceed to strip his truck into pieces in front of him, but he does not talk. Chris assigns Templeton to stand watch over his house, as he knows Hamilton will likely target his family. Chris himself remains at the sheriff's office to supervise Booth. He is visited by Deni, stopping by under the pretense of bringing him food and reveals that she quit her job as the casino stripper. The next morning, Watkins and his deputies arrive at the Chris's office where they blow up his truck and fire upon the building with machine guns.

Recognizing his dangerous predicament, Booth pleads for Chris to let him out of his cell, prompting Chris to use Booth's perilous situation as leverage for information. Booth reveals that the old mill is where the drugs are being produced, but is immediately killed by the indiscriminate fire of the attackers. Chris manages to kill all of the attackers with Deni's help. Chris's parents's house is attacked, but Templeton and Chris's father are able to dispatch the gunmen. After ensuring their safety, Chris heads for the mill where he discovers a meth lab as well as Hamilton, calmly waiting in a control room. Hamilton attempts to kill Chris with the mill equipment by dropping him through a trap door, but Chris drags Hamilton down with him and the two fall through a chute. Chris, whose leg is injured, manages to tend to his injury in a nearby forest before Hamilton attacks him with an axe. The two fight for their lives, with Chris coming out on top by crippling and defeats Hamilton, who is arrested and taken into custody, and with Templeton's assistance, Chris shuts down the casino and the local cedar mill is back in use.

Cast



* Dwayne Johnson (credited as The Rock) as Christopher "Chris" Vaughn, Jr.

* Johnny Knoxville as Ray Templeton

* Neal McDonough as Jay Hamilton

* Michael Bowen as Sheriff Stan Watkins

* Kevin Durand as Booth

* Kristen Wilson as Michelle Vaughn

* Ashley Scott as Deni

* Barbara Tarbuck as Connie Vaughn

* Khleo Thomas as Pete Vaughn

* John Beasley as Christopher Vaughn Sr.

* Cobie Smulders as Exotic Beauty

Reception



The film received mixed reviews from critics and audience. Based on 136 reviews collected by the film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 26% of critics gave 'Walking Tall' a positive review, with an average rating of 5.4/10, with the critics consensus: "The Rock makes a competent hero, but the movie is content to let a 24 do all the talking." Metacritic gave the film a score of 44 based on 31 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

The film grossed $57 million (worldwide total), with a budget of $46 million. and was a commercial success at the box office.

Sequel



'Walking Tall: The Payback' and 'Walking Tall: Lone Justice' are two direct-to-video sequels that have been released starring Kevin Sorbo.

See also



* Vigilante film

References




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