Walking Tall [Blu-ray]

Director: Kevin Bray Kevin Bray

Overview

A man fights to bring decency and the rule of law back to his hometown in this action drama. Chris Vaughn (The Rock) left his home in Washington State's timber country to join the Army, where he distinguished himself as a member of the Special Forces. When his hitch is over, Vaughn decides to return home to help run the family business, a sawmill, but he soon makes the unpleasant discovery that things aren't what they once were. Vaughn learns that the town's lumber industry has all but dried up, and an old high school buddy, Jay Hamilton (Neal McDonough), has turned the city into a den of vice, running a large gambling casino and strip club while selling drugs and women on the side. Angry at this turn of events, and frustrated by local law enforcement officials who are willing to ignore Hamilton's crimes in exchange for kickbacks, Vaughn decides to run for sheriff, and with the help of another old friend, Ray Templeton (Johnny Knoxville), he wins the election. But Hamilton doesn't take kindly to Vaughn's attempts to clean up the town, and Vaughn discovers Hamilton's henchmen are willing to target his friends, his family, and the woman he loves (Ashley Scott) in order to have their way. Walking Tall was based on Phil Karlson's 1973 action hit of the same name, which was in turn inspired by the true story of Buford Pusser, who was sheriff of Tennessee's McNairy County between 1964 and 1970 and gained fame for his tough tactics against the local criminal element.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/14/2018
UPC:	0760137131380
Original Release:	2004
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Mvd Marquee Collect
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:26:00
Sales rank:	20,531

Special Features

Audio commentary by Dwayne Johnson; Audio commentary of the director & crew; "Fight the Good Fight" stunts featurette; Deleted scenes; Bloopers; Alternate ending; Photo gallery; Original theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Dwayne Johnson	Chris Vaughn
Johnny Knoxville	Ray Templeton
Neal McDonough	Jay Hamilton
Kristen Wilson	Michelle Vaughn
Ashley Scott	Deni
Khleo Thomas	Pete Vaughn
Barbara Tarbuck	Connie Vaughn
John Beasley	Chris Vaughn Sr.
Michael Bowen	Sheriff Stan Watkins
Andrew Tarbet	Jimmy
Eric Breker	Deputy Ralston
Kevin Durand	Booth
Michael Adamthwaite	Burke
Darcy Laurie	Smittie
Fred Keating	Doctor
Patrick Gallagher	Keith
Ben Cardinal	Michele's Partner
John Stewart	Rusty,Girl on Platform
Ryan Robbins	Travis
Terence Kelly	Judge L. Powell
Tom Scholte	Merle Crowe
Mark Houghton	County Prosecutor
James Ashcroft	Bailiff
Aaron Douglas	Casino Stickman
Birkett Turton	Kenner
Michael Soltis	Casino Maintenance Worker
April Telek	Casino Waitress
Sandra Steier	Addict Mother
Ben Cotton	Drug Dealer
Cobie Smulders	Exotic Beauty
Chelsie Amber McEachnie	Lap Dancer
Eric Keenleyside	Dan Stadler
Kaja Gjesdal	Lap Dancer
Melody Cherpaw	Lap Dancer
Alana Drozduke	Casino Trashy Woman
Sandra Higueras	Casino Trashy Woman
Ty Olsson	Deputy
Ana Mirkovic	Blackjack Dealer
David Purvis	Ray's AA Sponsor
Beverley Elliott	Nurse
Douglas Sheridan	Boxman
Katina Robillard	Dollar Bill Girl
Rita Edwards	Wet T-Shirt Girl
Sarah Smith	Wet T-Shirt Girl
The Rock	Actor
Graeme Revell	Composer

Technical Credits

Brian Koppelman

David Levien

Channing Gibson

David Klass

Kevin Bray	Director
Lucas Foster	Producer
Paul Schiff	Producer
Ashok Amritraj	Producer
David Hoberman	Producer
Bill Bannerman	Producer
Vince McMahon	Executive Producer
Jim Burke	Producer
Keith Samples	Executive Producer
Brian Koppelman	Screenwriter
David Levien	Screenwriter
Channing Gibson	Screenwriter
David Klass	Screenwriter
Coreen Mayrs	Casting
Gilbert Combs	Stunts
John Wardlow	Stunts
Ken Kirzinger	Stunts
Christopher Sayour	Stunts
Ryan Ennis	Stunts,Stunts
Claire Webb	Stunts
Jason Calder	Stunts
Tanoai Reed	Stunts
Sharon Simms	Stunts
David Dawson	Key Grip
Steve McMichaels	Stunts
Mike Dopud	Stunts
Sarah Halley-Finn	Casting
Scott Ateah	Stunts
Gerald Paetz	Stunts
Doug Chapman	Stunts
Shawn Stewart	Stunts
Darryl Scheelar	Stunts
Vince Crestejo	Stunts
Neil Jones	Stunts
Rick Moore	Stunts
Gerald Wong	Stunts
Heike Brandstatter	Casting
Owen Walstrom	Stunts
Yvette Jackson	Stunts
John Sampson	Stunts
Sean Cannon	Stunts
Ryan Schroeder	Stunts
Robin Webb	Stunts
Carolyn Anderson	Stunts
Shawn Beaton	Stunts
Mark Fielding	Stunts
Brad Kelly	Stunts
Rick Pearce	Stunts
Mark Curry	Sound Mixer
Richard King	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Phil Karlson's 1973 cult classic starring Joe Don Baker as southern sheriff Buford Pusser has been thoroughly (and skillfully) overhauled in the making of this satisfying vehicle for rising action star Dwayne Johnson (a.k.a. The Rock). Retaining little more than the original's title and basic premise -- a determined citizen becomes sheriff to single-handedly wrest control of his small hometown from the lawless element -- it supplies a surfeit of the bone-crunching action we've come to expect from the Rock. He portrays Chris Vaughn, a U.S. Army Special Forces operative who, after completing his hitch, returns to his rural Northwest community, which is being ravaged by petty crime and widespread drug use. Upon learning that these depredations are byproducts of the outwardly glamorous casino run by his childhood buddy, Jay Hamilton (played by the sublimely smarmy Neal McDonough), Chris ousts the corrupt sheriff and runs for office himself, declaring war on Hamilton and his minions after he wins the election. You can imagine what happens next, and it ain't pretty. In place of Pusser's baseball bat, Vaughn totes a six-foot-long wooden beam, which helps equalize the multi-adversary confrontations he faces at a rate of one per reel. MTV's erstwhile "Jackass," Johnny Knoxville, makes a surprisingly effective second banana as Ray Templeton, and gorgeous Ashley Scott brightens the screen as Deni, the former girlfriend forced by economic hardship to become an exotic dancer at Hamilton's casino. Director Kevin Bray realizes that he's not working with top-notch story material, so he focuses on maintaining a semblance of credibility during the well-staged but highly improbable action sequences. The Rock's pro-wrestling background doesn't qualify him to play Hamlet, but he takes movie work seriously, gets better with each film, and with this raucous popcorn movie demonstrates that he's ready for a shot at the big time.

Barnes & Noble - Ed Hulse

While Walking Tall doesn't exactly break any new ground in the world of action movies, it does manage during its lean and mean 86-minute running time to deliver a solid, yet brainless, good time. A remake of the Joe Don Baker film of the same name, this version's first change is the name of its main character from Buford Pusser to Chris Vaughn. Perhaps the filmmakers thought that Buford Pusser just wouldn't be a fitting hero name for the film's star, wrestler The Rock. It is the onscreen charm of The Rock that makes this film a fun ride. In the hands of any other action star, Walking Tall could have turned out to be as thin as the film's barely there premise. In his portrayal of the avenging sheriff in a small Washington town, The Rock comes off not as a bully, but as a good-natured muscleman who loves his family and is really looking out for the little guy. While watching the über-macho Rock go around cleaning up the town with his trusty weapon of choice, it's hard not to let go and pump your fist as you root for him. Every character is a cliché, much of the dialogue falls flat on the ground, and the film's plot and conclusion can be seen from miles away. However, the director understands how to film action at the brisk pace that so many of today's so-called action films lack. Walking Tall steps past all of its obvious flaws and remains, if the audience lets it, a terrifically entertaining time.

All Movie Guide - Jason Gibner