Blog Entry #6

Movie: Walking Tall

Movie Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edR_niqKp1Q

Fanonian Perspectives:

(1) (2) (3) (5) (6) (7) (8) (12) (13) (16)

Summary and Relation to Fanonian Perspectives:

Former U.S. Army Special Forces sergeant Chris Vaughn (The Rock) returns to his small home town in Kitsap County, Washington. Looking for work, he finds the local cedar mill was closed down three years prior by its heir, Jay Hamilton (Neal McDonough), who opened a new casino that now accounts for the majority of revenue for the local area Jay Hamilton takes the form of the powerful colonizer. Hamilton, who was also Vaughn's school friend, invites him to a night of fun at the casino. While checking out the VIP lounge, Vaughn stumbles upon his childhood friend Deni (Ashley Scott), who is now working as a stripper. Later, he notices the craps dealer using loaded dice signs of corruption as seen in the colonial system 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, Vaughn instigates a fight (2)(5) this is reflective of the colonized using violence as a cleaning force which restores his self-esteem also he is seen as the revolutionary peasant who has nothing to lose and everything to gain . Although he beats down most of the security guards, he is subsequently subdued with a cattle prod (16) impose rule by superior weaponry and knocked unconscious. The security staff take Vaughn into the basement and Hamilton's right-hand man and head of security Booth (Kevin Durand) tortures him by cutting his torso with a utility knife before dumping him on a roadside (13) this is in relation to that of exploitation as the capitalist class (the gaurds) used violence to exploit the people, firstly using rigged dice and then when opposed they exerted violence and threat to life in order to keep the colonized (towns people) in place. He is found by a trucker and hospitalized, but recovers quickly.

Vaughn goes to the sheriff, Stan Watkins (Michael Bowen), 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 (6) this is in relation to the perspectives of “traitors” where by persons who move from rural areas into towns and try to succeed under the colonial regime are considered sellouts and traitors the sheriff and police force in this case were seen as the “traitors”, stating that because of its position, the casino is considered a "no fly zone"(12) direct relation to the perspective that states “army and police are the pillars of the regime” and that the strength of them are proportionate to the stagnation of the nation due to their corrupt nature bring manipulated by “foreign advisors” (Jay Hamilton). i.e due to this corruption the people are powerless. After this, Vaughn also learns that his nephew, Pete (Khleo Thomas), experimented with crystal meth, which was sold to his friends by the casino security guards. Infuriated, Vaughn goes to 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 (2) (3)(8) this instance is related to various perspective mainly as discussed before violence to restore self-esteem but also to the perspective that the peasant (Chris Vaughn) who stays put is a staunch defender of tradition (he holds the values which previously existed in the community and defends them demanding fairness)… “Clinging to a rigid context can generate episodes of tribal warfare” his actions state he stuck to his views firmly and initated “war” against the “oppressors”. Vaughn 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 Vaughn. When the judge allows Vaughn to present his defense, he fires his appointed attorney, who is implicitly under Hamilton's employment (12) again instances of corruption. After making a civic speech about the town's great former self, Vaughn tells the jury and the rest of the town that if he's cleared of the charges, he will run for sheriff and clean up the town (8) (7) again he is seen as a “staunch defender of tradition” who’s existence would “of course generate episodes of warfare” he would fight so that “the last shall be first”. To further emphasize his plea, Vaughn reveals the grotesque scars on his torso from his being tortured by the casino staff. He is then acquitted and wins the election for sheriff. Upon taking office, he summarily dismisses the entire police force and deputizes his friend, Ray Templeton (Johnny Knoxville), whom Vaughn feels he can trust, as well as help Vaughn learn about narcotics (Templeton revealed earlier that he served time in prison after becoming a drug addict).

Vaughn and Templeton find 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. Vaughn assigns Templeton to stand watch over his house, as he knows Hamilton will likely target his family. Vaughn 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 two end up spending the night together in the office. The next morning, Watkins and his deputies arrive at the Sheriff's office where they blow up Vaughn's truck and fire upon the building with machine guns (12) (13)(16) related to Fanonian perspectives of again corruption and that the strength of the police force was in relation to the stagnation of the nation, as well as the exploitation and imposition of rules through the use of superior weaponry . Recognizing his dangerous predicament, Booth pleads for Vaughn to let him out of his cell, prompting Vaughn 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. Vaughn manages to kill all of the attackers with Deni's help (1) (2) (5) (8) this instance was related to major themes of unity for resistance with the use of violence as a cleansing force with nothing to lose and everything to gain (Vaughn and Deni) and the cause of this being the existence of the “staunch defender of tradition” (Vaughn) who ensues war against the oppressor (the police force under Hamilton’s rule).

Vaughn's parents' house is attacked, but Templeton and Vaughn's father are able to dispatch the gunmen. After ensuring their safety, Vaughn heads for the mill where he discovers a meth lab as well as Hamilton, calmly waiting in a control room. Hamilton attempts to kill Vaughn with the mill equipment by dropping him through a trap door (16) perspective where the foreigner (Hamilton) tries to use superior weaponry to impose his rule, but Vaughn drags Hamilton down with him and the two fall through a chute. Vaughn, 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 Vaughn ultimately coming out on top by beating Hamilton with a nearby uprooted tree, breaking his leg. Vaughn repeats what Hamilton said to him earlier "You're right, Jay. This does change our relationship. This is my town. You're under arrest." (2) Vaughn uses violence again to restore his self-esteem. And Hamilton is arrested and taken into custody, with Templeton's assistance, Vaughn shuts down the casino. In the closing scene it is revealed that the local mill is back in use (7) The last became be first.

Reference Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking_Tall_(2004_film)