A One Mann’s Movies review of “Equalizer 3” (2023).
Sometimes the quality of a movie is utterly dependant on the charisma of its star. “Equalizer 3” is one such movie with Denzel Washington peerless as Robert McCall (“2 C’s, 2 L’s”)!
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
When a ‘job’ for McCall goes south in a bad way, he is embraced by the love and warmth of a small Italian fishing village. He finds peace at last. But that peace is shattered by the local mafia, and McCall is not one to sit idly by.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong violence, injury detail, threat, language”.)
Talent:
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Eugenio Mastrandrea, David Denman, Gaia Scodellaro, Remo Girone, Andrea Scarduzio, Andrea Dodero.
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua.
Written by: Richard Wenk.
Twitter Handle: #TheEqualizer.
Playing cat and mouse with each other. Dakota Fanning and Denzel Washington. (Source: Sony Pictures)
“Equalizer 3” Review:
Positives:
- The ‘sense of place’ of the film is fantastic. Having literally stepped off a plane from Dubrovnik, I was immediately taken back there by the narrow passageways, the metal doors hiding exquisite little gardens, the steps (just SOOOO many steps!). Fuqua and his cinematographer Robert Richardson let the camera loiter on the little details and ad hoc interactions that really bring the town to life. You can believe that McCall would love to put down roots here.
- Denzel Washington is JUST SUPERB here. It’s too easy to dismiss the role as ‘just another action hero’. But Washington imbues McCall with an exquisite vulnerability. You can see the doubt in his eyes at what he has to do. “Are you a good man or a bad man?” asks Dr Arisio. “I don’t know” he replies, with a look of pain in his eyes. Washington is also brilliantly threatening in his dealings with the local heavies: stern and impassive, he’ll suddenly (and disarmingly) flash his brilliant smile before an horrific act of violence. I’m not sure anyone else could ever play this role as convincingly. It’s really an award-worthy performance.
Negatives:
- Be under no doubt, this is a very violent film. Two lovely ladies were sitting along the row from me in the Everyman, Salisbury. Before the film started, I heard one say to the other “I’ve heard that this film is a bit violent”. Then when the BBFC certificate came up, the other said “Oh, it’s only a 15 – it can’t be that bad”. Well! The opening scenes, in a Sicilian farmhouse, put some pretty gross images in your head. (There’s a whole new meaning to the term ‘head-shot!). And that’s before an old man in a wheelchair gets thrown out of a 4th floor window! I’d posit that Antoine Fuqua must have compromising information about the BBFC censors. Since, for me, this should have clearly been an 18 certificate due to the level of gruesome violence on show. (I note that I said that I was “truly staggered” that the original Equalizer movie wasn’t an “18”…. so Fuqua must have had those photographs for a long time!)
- The primary plot is almost a straight re-hash of “The Magnificent Seven”… or in this case, The Magnificent One! (Ironically of course, Washington had a starring role in the 2016 remake). That’s not a bad thing, since the concept of an ‘outsider with skills’ helping to protect a helpless village against mindless thugs is a great story. In this case, the plot though seems unnecessarily over complicated by a parallel plot involving a CIA investigation into drug supply from Middle Eastern terrorists. This allows for the welcome addition of CIA agent Emma Collins (Dakota Fanning) to the story, but sticking to, and expanding on, the “Magnificent Seven” storyline might have been more satisfying.
- In that regard, there is a WONDERFUL scene in the 3rd reel where the townsfolk stand up for themselves to protect McCall – not with pitchforks, but with smartphones. But instead of building on that collaborative effort in the finale, we switch to McCall doing his lone-wolf stuff again Although still fun to watch, that feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.
Summary Thoughts on “Equalizer 3″
I didn’t expect too much from this one, but I really did have a fun time in the cinema. It takes its time building mood and character, so you really care about what happens to not only McCall but the ‘family’ around him. And then Fuqua delivers its action scenes with style and brutality.
I’m not sure whether this will make my top 10 for the year… but it won’t be far off.
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Trailer for “Equalizer 3”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20GWk5cWPBs.
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