Walking Tall (2004)
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A discharged Army soldier returns to his hometown to find it plagued by crime and corruption, leading him to take matters into his own hands.
The story
Sergeant Chris Vaughn, a former Green Beret, returns to his small hometown in Kitsap County to find work. He discovers the local economy is dominated by a casino owned by his former school friend, Jay Hamilton. After discovering the casino is a front for illegal activities and witnessing his nephew's overdose, Chris is attacked by Hamilton's security. Seeking justice, Chris confronts the casino and is eventually apprehended. However, after a trial where he reveals his scars and promises to clean up the town, he is acquitted and wins the election to become the town's sheriff.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Sergeant Chris Vaughn, a former Green Beret, returns to his hometown in Kitsap County. He finds the local cedar mill closed and replaced by a casino owned by his childhood friend, Jay Hamilton. After Chris discovers the casino's illicit operations and is brutally attacked by Hamilton's head of security, Booth, he seeks justice. Despite the corrupt Sheriff Watkins' refusal to act, Chris destroys casino property and is eventually acquitted in court after a public speech. Elected as sheriff, Chris dismisses the old police force and deputizes his friend Ray Templeton. Together, they begin dismantling the drug trade. After Booth reveals the location of a drug lab, Chris and his allies fight off attackers. In a final confrontation at the cedar mill, Chris faces Hamilton. Despite being injured, Chris cripples Hamilton and arrests him, subsequently shutting down the casino and reopening the mill.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 86
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Kevin Bray
- Writers
- David Klass · writer; Channing Gibson · writer; David Levien · writer; Brian Koppelman · writer
- Cast and characters
- The Rock · Chris Vaughn Jr.; Johnny Knoxville · Ray Templeton; Neal McDonough · Jay Hamilton; Kristen Wilson · Michelle Vaughn; Ashley Scott · Deni
- Genres
- vigilante action; action
- Themes
- justice; corruption; redemption; veteran life
- Tone and mood
- action; serious
- Premise and plot tags
- vigilante; action; remake; veteran
- Source material / true-story basis
- Based on Sheriff Buford Pusser and his time as sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee.
- Franchise connections
- Walking Tall
- Reception
- The film received negative reviews from critics and grossed $57.2 million against a $46 million budget.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 27% · review count: 134; Metacritic · score: 44 · scale: 100 · review count: 31; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film is dedicated to the memory of Sheriff Buford Pusser.; The film was shot in Vancouver.; The film is a remake of a 1973 film of the same name.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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