The Equalizer - Review

At first glance, this movie screams mediocrity. The plot of an ex-CIA member, coming out of retirement to take on the Russian Mafia in Boston could have easily been a budget action movie that came out in January and it could have been mindless entertainment. However, put some talent behind and in front of the camera, and you have yourself The Equalizer, a movie that is surprisingly really well done.

Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua are reunited after 13 years. The last time they teamed up was for the 2001 film, Training Day in which Denzel Washington won an academy award for best actor. So add that chemistry and strong foundation to a rather simple story that could have been made by anyone and you have a sleek looking action thriller.

Denzel Washington plays Robert McCall and his performance really elevates the movie. He has this sense of pure wisdom and calmness about him that is both endearing if you are a friend and menacing and intimidating if you are an enemy. He lives his life very quietly and on a continuous routine. Wake up early, have the house perfectly clean, go to work as a manager at a Home Depot type warehouse, and take a stroll to a local diner late at night. The next day, the exact same thing. Nothing too exciting. However, we get a sense that his life wasn't always like this. His co-workers often make jokes about the mystery of Robert's past. At this local diner he visits frequently, he befriends a young prostitute named Teri played by Chloe Grace Moretz. Their relationship is handled very well. No sexually implied attraction or romantic connection of any kind is present between the two of them which is a good thing. I feel like if this movie was made by a no-name director or simply a director that isn't as talented, they might have created a relationship deeper than just friendship between them which, in my eyes, would have been uncomfortable, unnecessary, and down-right creepy. She's a teeanger and he's like 60. Glad they didn't do that.

One night when Teri isn't at the diner, we find out that her boss, a part of the local Russian Mafia, beat her leaving her badly injured in the hospital. That's when it is revealed to the audience that Robert McCall is actually a former government agent of sorts and is highly trained in combat. I watched this movie with my dad and he is the type of guy to laugh hysterically when there is a brutally violent action sequence. He was laughing throughout a good portion of the movie because when the action scenes do show up, it can get bloody.

This is where a director with a vision can help a movie like this. Instead of shooting these action scenes super close with tons of shaky cam, Antoine Fuqua decided to shoot the action scenes more like a Sherlock Holmes scene. You have a quick cut of Denzel's eyes look around the room and observe his enemies and his surroundings. A quick cut of Denzel's eyes look right, cut to a Russian mobster laughing by the bar, cut to a wine cork screw. You start to anticipate what happens next, but you don't expect it to be that graphic. That's when you can hear my dad laughing in the theatre. Add in some other slow-motion effects mixed with a slick soundtrack, these are some great action scenes.

One problem that I have heard people bring up is that Denzel Washington's character has no weakness and that his arc isn't as interesting because his obstacle doesn't seem to that big of a problem for him. And while it is true that the character of Robert is able to take out swarms of bad guys no problem and is able to out smart them at every corner, the villain of the movie isn't really the Russian Mob, it's more of a personal battle. Throughout the movie, Robert is reading various books when he visits his favourite diner. When he describes them to Teri, the plots of the books match the inner turmoil of Robert at that given moment. His struggle is can he go back to being the person he once was when he worked for the government. It's a bit deeper than simply fighting an opponent who is taller, bigger, faster, stronger etc. While Pushkin, the head Russian clean up crew does a pretty menacing job, the bigger antagonist of the film is in Robert's mind. Besides, Denzel is so charismatic and awesome that I love seeing him destroy all who comes before him with ease.

So while this movie isn't anything particularly new or groundbreaking, it's a solid, solid picture that is definitely worth a watch. It won't make it onto any "best films of all time" lists, but it will entertain you from start to finish, no problem.