In The Equalizer, based (really freaking loosely) upon the TV show, which ran from 1985-1989, ex-special forces operative Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) has retired to a routine and quiet private life. His existence is mainly comprised of days working at a local hardware superstore, while trying to ease restless nights by reading and keeping informal company with other potential insomniacs at a local diner. McCall’s routine gets interrupted when Teri (Cholë Grace Moretz), a young prostitute that he has befriended – starts being mistreated by her Russian mobster handlers. Before long, McCall finds that doing one good deed sets him back on a path to a life he thought he’d left behind. Sometimes, the helpless need a guardian angel to protect them from the demons of society – and in those moments, McCall is on hand to equalize the odds.
Director Anton Fuqua pretty much jetpacked almost everything related to the TV series except the title, the main character’s name, and the bare-bones premise. Even the theme song is gone. For all intents and purposes, The Equalizer isn’t so much a reboot as it is an entirely new entity. We have to say, however, that this is Fuqua’s darkest film to date. He does a good job at creating a contrast between the shadowy underworld and the daytime blue-collar world that McCall steps between. Fuqua gives this film’s cinematography a grainy look that makes it feel like a ’90s action movie throwback – complete with some pretty brutal violence and bloodshed. For stylistic flourish, Fuqua arranges slow-motion sequences that imitate Robert’s timed-precision combat style. In our opinion, the film doesn’t use the sequences nearly enough, but we can only hope that in the future, be used in more creative and complex ways.
Washington brings some great action sequences to the screen. Moretz did such a great job developing her character and drawing you into why Denzel’s character would connect with her the way he did. Csokas did a phenomenal job as the villain – he definitely pulled no punches. The Equalizer is very well-constructed – it’s not for the audience member that just wants to see stuff blow up for no reason – it’s smart, dark, and hits all the right notes. Well done movie peoples, well done.
