The Equalizer

Plot

Bob is an ‘every-man’. He has an ‘everyday’ job at a local hardware store where he is friends with all who work there. He even goes above and beyond for some of them, trying to help one man achieve his dream of being a security guard.

He is plagued by insomnia, and often frequents the local diner, where he is friends with the owner, and the regulars including 17 year old prostitute Teri, who likes to call him by his full name… Robert.

When Teri is beaten half to death, Bob takes it upon himself to try to do what he can to secure her freedom, but in doing so – unleashes a past within him that he long thought dormant.

Now, a war is brewing, between a Russian crime gang… and Robert.

Direction/Cinematography

Directed by Antoine Fuqua (who previously directed Washington in Training Day) and Cinematography by Mauro Fiore – who also worked on Training Day. The trio would work on The Magnificent Seven in 2016 together.

I enjoyed the style they created together, especially during Robert’s ‘visions’ memorising events and viewing his surroundings before he ‘reacts’.

I didn’t love the darkness of the final shootout in the hardware store, but I loved the song choice (Vengeance by Zach Hemsey).

Cast/Characters

Denzel Washington plays Robert “Bob” McCall, a former Marine and retired DIA/DCS officer. He is ultra intuitive and has almost ‘mentalist’ type observational skills.

Marton Csokas plays Nicolia “Teddy Rensen” Itchenko – a high ranking and brutally violent Lieutenant to a Russian Crime Lord, Puskin.

Chloe Grace Mortez plays Teri (real named Alina), whose attack is the architecture for Roberts ‘wrath’

David Harbour, plays Frank – a dirty cop who works for Rensen/Itchenko.

Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman play friends of Roberts, who assist him in his investigations of the Russian mafia.

Breakdown

Released the same year as the ‘other’ retired assassin comes back into the fold after his wife dies, and takes on dozens and dozens of bad guys. Washington’s take on the genre is based on a television show of the 1980’s – so ‘technically’ he came first.

McCall is seen to be the ‘every-man’ you want at every work place. He’s kind, he’s empathetic, and he gets involved in the lives of his co-workers (helping his pal Ralph get into shape so he can become a security guard). His home life is organised, neat – and he is meticulous with order of things, with an almost OCD type order.

While his past is somewhat secretive (I’ll be interested to see if this is explored further in future films), we discover he is a widower, and often frequents the local diner at night to read.

His friendship with Teri is platonic, as she is a teenager – they often chat books (he is trying to get through the 100 best books – as his wife loved to read). The fact they don’t even know each others names until just before she is attacked, makes me question why he goes into such ‘literal overkill’ for her.

While there isn’t really much of a ‘narrative’ other than Washington vs a whole lot of ‘bad guys’ ; first Teri’s ‘pimp’ who happens to be involved in Russian mafia, the main bad guy who McCall is up against is ‘Teddy’ – he’s a solid bad guy and is shown to be physically intimidating at times. I liked the too and fro between McCall and Teddy – but I found the logic that Teddy found McCall (and knows what he is, without killing him instantly?) too on the nose and unbelievable.

The violence is more brutal than the ‘other’ assassin movie, and McCall is seemingly more gifted a killer, hardly using a gun. The way he ‘self medicates’ is interesting too, as he clearly had in the field training to do so/

I enjoyed the inclusion of big names Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman, and look forward to see what they bring to the franchise in future movies.

Overall

Strong action film, in the same vein as the John Wick chronicles. Robert’s past probably could have been expanded further (but I’m sure that will be addressed in #2 and #3 – and if Washington has his way #4 and #5).

My only gripe is the reason for Robert’s rampage – it felt a little weak – and his friendship with Teri should have been made stronger for such a “reaction”…

Looking forward to watching the rest of the series.

4/5

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