Walking Tall

Walking Tall

For fans of The Rock, both the wrestler and the actor, it’s a bittersweet situation, a pun intended. The third-generation pro wrestler has hardly been doing any wrestling activities lately, as he is busier with movie creating. He is presently shooting Be Cool, the sequel for Get Shorty, and he has Instant Karma and the adaptation of video game Spy Hunter on the cards.

So you cannot watch him exercise a Rock Bottom (apart from The Rundown), but you can see him in quite good films (but not The Scorpion King). Is it worth it? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. But Walking Tall, The Rock’s new film, demonstrates how less time is likely to be spent watching him in a wrestling ring as this is a very good film.

Before I go any further, let me settle a matter. I have seen a number of reviewers here suggesting that this is, in fact, a creation of the WWE franchise. Not necessarily so. We know that Vince McMahon, the founder of the WWE, is also the executive producer of the film for his newly established WWE Films. But that’s all he is, an executive producer.

I could be wrong about this, but I think he works as an executive producer due to The Rock’s appearances, since his name’s not Dwayne Johnson, it’s “The Rock.” McMahon owns that trademark and they market all those movies, so that’s how Vince McMahon became an executive producer. So to all those who have been slating the film because it is from the WWE, it actually was not. I believe it is McMahon’s way to protect his business interests in The Rock rather than McMahon venturing into feature film making. Alright, back to the review of the rest of the film.

The film gets off to a good start, with Chris Vaughn (The Rock) returning to his hometown after eight years of being in the Special Forces. However, the whole city is not the same as one that he left. Tired of seeing things that he does not like, he decides to become the new sheriff to restore the town he cherished. However, there is his former friend Jay Hamilton (McDonough) who is now the drug kingpin in the area. He also runs a very successful casino while smuggling drugs using security staff. The Rock don’t like that, he has to layeth the smocked down. Sorry I couldn’t help it.

The film is actually just 75 minutes in duration which is a good thing according to me. It is a good thing to see a film that does not seem to stretch on forever since most of them do lately. The film is fast, brisk, and, a word that seems to have gone missing from the vocabulary of Hollywood these days, concise. The only thing that I would have wished to see more was Vaughn’s efforts to be elected as the sheriff.

It is so abrupt; they leap from him wanting to be a sheriff to him being a sheriff without even discussing how it happened. Multiple directions they could have gone with this (blackmail, rigging the election, etc), but they just gave him a badge and that was that. Some more character development would be nice as well. The movie could have indeed been longer but it would not have been unnecessary, but still, it is better than 2 and a half hour movie that you are just dying to end.

As a vigilante sheriff out for justice and to do the right thing, The Rock as Vaughn simply dominates the role of a sheriff who will do anything for justice. He projects such commanding screen presence and he shows some great range here, which is somewhat surprising considering this is the same guy who gigged rent by simply cutting people with a chair. The Rock is the action icon for the new millennium, folks. And this movie just demonstrates why he is worthy of this status. Surprisingly showing some pretty good range is Johnny Knoxville as well.

He does well in mining as Vaughn’s buddy/deputy Ray which is surprising coming from a guy who get his rent by doing anyway, really. Neil McDonough is great here as well and as Jay Hamilton the shady casino owner. I liked him for his first hit in Minority Report as I felt more good things were to come from this guy and the evidence is in Walking Tall. ‘Proof How State’s Ms. Ashley Scott Was The Only Reason Any Suspense Could Have Been Created Was Abused In The Vow Of Deni Who Brought The Vow To The Screen But Vow Did Not Work’.

A movie that includes these authors- David Klass, Channing Gibson, Brian Koppleman, and David Levien goes for a humorous take. Producers needed to boost the actors’ reputation when casting comedians such as Knoxville and McBride in order to get more gags since not everything was focused on comedy. The film concludes quite predictably, but it was appropriately part of the plot. It is a little absurd to me, however, that it took 4 writers to finish a lone 75-minute movie. Well, it happens. That Vaughn and his father, Beasley is good too. The script needed more of almost everything really, but it was okay nonetheless.

Kevin Bray is the director. Good direction, suitable action, although it is quite manic in my opinion. The sequences actually work, but there is too much cutting. Those sequences would have worked better without too many cuts. But Bray knows how to handle his talent quite well. And The Rock’s camera angles are quite accentuated by low angles.

For some people, the film seems to promote violence as a possible solution. Come on guys, it is a film. Get your thumbs out of your mouth and appreciate it for what it is. Based on her true story, Buford T. Pusser settled matters with a 2X4 rule. So this movie does not advocate the use of violence so much as it tells the story of a man who did violence. It is a very thin line, perhaps, but still. It’s a movie, guys.

In defense of those who will be turned off by the film for its argument I would say that the argument in question is what more likely constitutes a thesis paper rather than a review, so I won’t go on further. But I wouldn’t think I am going to see any sheriff’s with 2X4’s barreled anytime in the near future.

This film, Walking Tall, gives us a less than ordinary perspective of honor itself. Brought about the honor, achieved through violence, still honor its self. It is also a relatively short film that does its job of portraying The Great One rather swiftly and succinctly. It’s nice to see a film that is not only entertaining but also makes you smile knowing it didn’t take three quarters of a year to give out to the masses, just to be watched.

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