Tribeca Review: Walker Payne
Filed under: Drama, Independent, Sports, Tribeca, Theatrical Reviews, Cinematical Indie
The difference between a small-scale dogfight and a real championship dogfight in 1957 is the audience. At the former, the all-male crowd is stereotypically country-bumpkin with faces and clothes covered in dirt. At the latter, rich folks are present, including women wearing their pearls and Sunday best. The surprise isn't that each has their own demographic, though; it is that either has any enthusiasts at all. Perhaps it is the illegality that draws them in, or maybe it's that gamblers will bet on just about anything.
While I was thinking about how dog fighting would be a tough-sell for a film like Walker Payne, which stars Jason Patric as a novice of the sport, I overheard some people in the audience discussing the contrary. They claimed the picture would be more marketable if the filmmakers cut out the dramatic story and just kept the dog fighting. If there are in fact people who enjoy watching pit bulls kill each other in a ring, then that edit would certainly make sense, since the film's narrative has very little going for it.
Patric plays the title character, a newly unemployed quarry worker who is denied access to his two daughters because he can't pay his child support payments. His ex-wife, Lou Ann (Drea de Matteo), therefore ends up the bad-cop parent, and when the little girls begin drawing pictures of their family with their mother left out, she makes a deal with Walker that he can buy the kids off her for five grand. In an attempt to acquire the money, however possible, he sells all his things at a tag sale and begs his old friend at the bank for a loan. Neither ends up fruitful for him, but at the bank he does meet Audrey (KaDee Strickland), the new woman in town.
Just when Walker thinks he hasn't a chance of getting the money, a mysterious out-of-towner named Syrus (Sam Shephard) shows up and takes notice of Walker's dog. At first Syrus tries unsuccessfully to buy the pit bull. Then, promising big money, he introduces Walker to the dogfights. With no other choice, Walker puts his loyal animal into the ring.
The worst scene in Walker Payne comes down the line, as the dog wins a few matches but gets really torn up. Audrey tells Walker that she can't love him if he's going to be so cruel to his dog, even if it is the only way he can get custody of his daughters. She then tells him about how her ex used to beat her because it was the only way he could deal with his awful job. Is Audrey comparing dogfights to domestic abuse? It seems that way, and the analogy comes off so random that it brings the film to a sudden, bewildering standstill. Somehow after that moment, not that it causes this exactly, the story gains more and more implausibility until it finally ends with utter perplexity.
The thing is, before the film even hits its questionable third act, it has too few redeemable qualities. Patric and Shepard are exceptional in their respective roles, but the characters they play are such thin, formulaic personalities, it never matters how well they are portrayed. The one thing in which the film excels at is depicting realistic-looking dog fights. The animals truly look like they're getting ripped apart. If any fans of the sport do end up seeing Walker Payne, they at least will be impressed and satisfied.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-03-2006 @ 9:46AM
Laura said...
It's fair to say that the description of this film is profoundly disturbing. I can't help but wonder if they will be glamorizing dog fighting (despite an overtly pious message delivered by the film's heroine). Much like the Victorian novels which professed to condemn various sinful activities, but only at the end of a long and titilating novel, I believe that this film will be an effective promotional vehicle for the activities which it pretends to condemn.
Dog fighting is a very real problem in our culture today. It is closer to many of us than we want to acknowledge. Further, those who are involved in dog fighting tend to have very impressive rap sheets including involvement with drug trafficking and meth labs, domestic abuse, theft, gang activity, etc etc etc. We are also learning that children are becoming more and more involved in these activities as they are drawn in to the "glamour" of dog fighting.
Of course, the real victims are the dogs themselves. They are perpetually exploited by criminals and also by the media, which smacks its lips at every opportunity to present a sensationalized story about "rampaging" Pit Bulls. Where are the stories about friendly, well adjusted Pit Bulls? Pit Bulls who save lives through search and rescue work? Oh, right, they don't sell widgets, so we don't see them.
There are many people out there breeding these dogs because they think they can make a quick buck selling the puppies. It's one of the fastest growing breeds of dogs in the country today. But because of the media's obsessive negativity toward the breed, it is also one of the hardest breeds to place once they all end up in shelters at about two years of age (assuming they haven't been abused to death or killed in a dog fighting ring). Just look at your local Petfinder site and try a search on Pit Bulls. If you don't see any, it's because your local shelter just puts them all down the second they walk in the door.
People don't want to deal with these things because they are extravagantly upsetting, but that doesn't change the fact that it is real, it is serious and i is happening all over America.
As Albert Schweitzer said, "Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight."
Dog fighting should not be the subject of diversion, whether it be ina dog fighting pit or in a theater. I hope that this film never sees the light of day.
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4-06-2008 @ 1:26PM
Lynn Mulwee Wright said...
For goodness sakes this is only a movie it's not real and my husband and I were on the scene some of the time when the movie was being made. The blood is fake the dogs are treated like royalty even better than some people! And to say that this glamorizes dog fighting is ridiculous do you believe everything you see in the movies. If I watch a murder movie or an edge of the seat thriller with blood, murders, etc. it doesn't make me want to go and cheer or glamorize him or her or become one. It's a Movie! You know actors, highly trained dogs, dog trainers, etc. And by demeaning this movie doesn't stop dog fighting if anything maybe if people who do dog fighting seen this movie they may think about what they're doing but I doubt it. My husbands aunt walked out of the mill in which she worked with the well known "Gaffney Strangler" Leroy Martin but at the time she only knew him as a nice man she worked with. She walked out with him because at the time all the women that had been killed had everyone in a panic wondering who and when another would turn up dead! And yes she told him she was scared and he compassionately walked her to her car and they talked about it and how awful it was! Then later that week another dead woman was found! So even seeing the horror people felt and seeing the impact he had on people didn't stop him. "IT'S Only A Movie And Stopping It From Being Seen Or Down Grading It Does Not Stop Dog Fighting"! truthgiver
5-03-2006 @ 9:50AM
Laura said...
FYI - dog fighting is not a "sport" it is a felony.
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7-26-2008 @ 1:01PM
Nathan said...
FYI - Dog fighting is both a sport and a felony.
5-03-2006 @ 2:41PM
Barbara Krantz said...
The dog fighting is the least of the story. The story is about choices. Each character develops slowly, and you see their "inner being". You clearly see the options they have, and you see them take directions with their life. Each character therefore must live with the results of those choices. The acting is excellent. The development of the characters by the writer/director is excellent, and the story is very real. Back in the 50's in small town USA things were very difficult, actually not much different then today. If a small town looses its major employer, everyone feels the negative results.
If you allow yourself the luxury to putting yourself in each characters shoes, you will relate to the film. Just close your eyes during the dog fights....allow they are not real, the director certainly did a wonderful job of making them very realistic.
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11-21-2006 @ 12:46PM
Extra said...
I was an extra in this movie, for the dog fight scenes. They are not real. It's all about the camara angles, makeup, and sound effects. While we were filming, the dogs were just rolling around and playing together. It was actually quite cute. But I'm sure once the sound effects are added, it appears very different. The dogs actually got way better treatment than we did. They had air conditioned trailers, snacks, and water at their disposal. We had only a few fans (which couldn't be running during takes) and the occasional mini cup of water. The Humane Society rep was there the entire time making sure the dogs were well rested and having fun.
Just in case anyone wanted to know.....
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4-18-2008 @ 12:24AM
Lynn Mulwee Wright said...
I was also an extra and the other extra is right the trailers were sat up across the street from my daughter's store in Gaffney, S.C. so we got to see allot. My granddaughter's even played with Gabrielle Brennan (Beth) and Chelsea Lopez (Sara) and it's true they all stayed in air condition trailers, and I even got to meet Jason Patric and his personal dog. I stopped him on the street in Gaffney and said hi and ask him if the dog he was walking was his or one in the movie. It was his and I keep up with his movies and info about him so I know he is an animal lover. And even for money I know he wouldn't stand for any abuse of any animal! His own dog was so obedient he just stood there as though he was standing at attention he was very well trained in fact he was better behaved than my granddaughters. And Jason was very nice but seemed a little reserve which I did stop him on the street to get his autograph so he probably didn't know what to except. But unfortunately I didn't get it because some one yelled across the street he had a five minutes to set or something like that, so we just chatted a moment and I told him to have a good day! And he did the same and went on his way. The next day we were extras in another town in this movie and the trailers had been moved there. So while we sat in the heat for hours in fact from I think 3:00 PM that afternoon until 2:00 AM the next morning (but don't get me wrong we were well taken care of) but the other extra is right the actors came out of the trailers when it was time for them to be filmed. Except for one time when Jason and a friend were walking their dogs. Anyway to say that these dogs were harmed in anyway would be ridiculous. These are highly trained animals and their owners would not allow anyone to harm them in any way. And to say this movie promotes dog fighting is crazy. People who fight dogs are going to do this no matter what. If anything this movie shows the reality of what some people will do for money and some people don't even know such tragedies still exists. To me this movie enlightens people that this is not something that went on in the 50's and 60's but still goes on today just like cock fighting! I have not seen the movie but would very much like too! Even if my husband and I are not in it or got cut I don't care it should be released and soon we've all waited long enough for it. There are a lot of people who want to see it and we all love dogs! (truthgiver)
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8-29-2008 @ 12:50AM
ginny said...
I rented the movie because I saw the actors in it, but didn't read the synopsis. I won't watch it because there is no excuse for dog fighting. For the statement, "Is Audrey comparing dogfights to domestic abuse?" Are you asking could we ever believe there is a comparison? Yes, is the answer. Domestic violence experts know that where domestic violence there is animal abuse, they go hand in hand. Are they at the same level? Yes, in that the abuser is abusing a helpless person or creature. So, unless this movie champions a person a hero against violence, I don't want to see it and any lame excuse for violence, whether to a person or animal.
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8-29-2008 @ 12:56AM
g said...
Re the author's statement: Is Audrey comparing dogfights to domestic abuse? Is this a rhetorical question? If it is, yes, dogfighting and domestic abuse go hand in hand, and they are equal in comparison because the abuser is hurting a helpless person or animal. A person and animal feels the same pain to the body and spirit.
I have no interest in a movie that gives excuses to an abuser or someone is an agent of abuse regardless of their explanation or reason for abusing.
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