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| Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment |
Denzel Washington is back as a visceral Robert McCall in this week's awaited release of The Equalizer 3, the reported finale of this trilogy. Based on the '80s television show, this series is a modern update that started in 2014 when Denzel's assassin with a heart of gold fought the Russian mob.
5 years after The Equalizer 2, the trained assassin returns to conclude his story with a hyper violent tale that sees the character maim and kill dozens of evil men. Playing it much closer to the tone of the first movie, Antoine Fuqua and team find a way to close on a high note that ups the kill count in new and disturbing ways. This is definitely the most hardcore of the bunch and sees Denzel’s version of McCall become more cold, calculated and fluid in his death delivery system. With a story that’s pretty interchangeable with many other movies about terrorist attacks and mafia related drug violence, Fuqua and Washington still manage to make the character interesting as he seeks some final peace in his long running arc.
As The Equalizer finds himself feeling at home in Naples, a new threat emerges and he must spring into action with zero remorse. Despite some cardboard cutout villains and a heavy layer of expected action tropes, Washington lifts his provided material with a multifaceted calm that’s layered with gut searing tension as only he can bring it. The plot calls back to the original television show with its episodic style as it continues to push forward with heavier action sequences, blood curdling scenes of pain, and a narrative that feels both timely but without many risks at all. Both Fuqua’s direction and Washington’s performance have a comfortable feeling this time that lets the audience know they’re playing in their own sandbox with some restraint for story but expansion on how McCall deals vengeance on his enemies.
Overall, this is a much better entry than The Equalizer 2. Taking the lead out of his comfort zone and putting him on foreign soil is vital to this third chapter. The update works to full effect with McCall trying to get some rest outside of the U.S.. With Dakota Fanning playing a CIA agent, this never plays like a Man on Fire 2 but gives her and Washington some time to bounce lines off each other again. Unfortunately, Fanning’s agent is one dimensional and doesn’t get enough screen time at all. She doesn’t add anything to the story and ends up being sidelined by a subplot that doesn’t go anywhere. Also, her character doesn’t feel rugged, experienced or visibly shaken by the numerous events and attacks taking place. She was an unnecessary addition to a movie that really didn't need her at all.
It’s really too bad that this is the supposed final entry in the series because there’s always something that’s enjoyable about these movies. Although they’re super serious and lack humor for the most part, this director/actor pairing always works great together. The dynamic match between the two gets the righteousness and brooding of Robert McCall correct. He feels like a real person, albeit a highly trained assassin, that could easily start wiping the streets clean of bad guys. He is that good guy with a gun trying to make more room for innocent folk to enjoy some peace and harmony. The Equalizer 3 is far from perfect but is a step up and a better than acceptable final chapter. I’m still not sure we can believe the claim that this will be the ending because it definitely opens more doors than it closes.
-CG