Movie Review: The Equalizer

Based on the classic TV show, Denzel Washington takes on the title role as a mysterious man who takes matters in his own hands. J.P. has his take on the latest action-thriller.

“THE EQUALIZER”
Columbia Pictures

USA Opened: Friday, September 26, 2014
Rated R by the MPAA for the following reasons: strong bloody, violence and language throughout, including some sexual references.
Running Time: 128 minutes

Directed by Antoine Fuqua
Produced by Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Denzel Washington, Alex Siskin, Steve Tisch, Mace Neufeld, Tony Eldridge, Michael Sloan
Screenplay by Richard Wenk
Based on The Equalizer by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim
Cast: Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo

Studio Synopsis:
In “The Equalizer,” Denzel Washington plays McCall, a man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when McCall meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by – he has to help her. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer.

J.P.’s Take:

Denzel Washington is no stranger to the action/thriller realm and with his usual charm he brings a quiet volatility to the role of Robert McCall in a calm / cool / collected performance. Washington’s McCall is a respectable guy, who is working as an inventory clerk for a big box home improvement store. A hit with his co-workers, Bob, as he’s sometimes called, supplies them with words of wisdom. He even mentors a young man named Ralphie (Johnny Skourtis), who wants badly to become a security guard. However, his fellow employees can’t help wondering about his past. In one funny moment, McCall jokingly tells his cohorts he was once a Pip (as in Gladys Knight and the Pips), while they mistake the word pip for pimp. In the scene, he puts on a few sure footed dances moves to demonstrate what he meant. The trailers make it apparent that he possesses some military training, yet you’re not sure to what degree. Meanwhile, you’re engrossed in what transpires mid way into the movie.

Outside of work he lives a life of solitude in his apartment, where he performs his daily routines methodically. On many sleepless nights, he retreats to a corner diner, where he reads classic novels, while sipping tea in a ritualistic manner. McCall strikes up a conversation with a young woman named Teri a.k.a. Elena (Chloe Grace-Moretz) that frequents the diner. He learns that she has aspirations to become a singer, yet works as an escort for the Russian mafia. Given her current predicament her dreams of making it big seem impossible to attain.

What sets the stage for McCall’s true identity to break through takes place in the scenes to come. One night, Teri is called out to service a client, which she is reluctant to do; causing friction between her and her mob handler. The next night when she returns to the diner lethargic and beaten, McCall becomes concerned. Teri begins to warm up to Robert and feels compelled to tell him her life story. They take a walk together to talk things out when they are confronted by a Russian mobster named Slavi (David Meunier). Slavi roughs Teri up and hands Robert a card telling him she’s no good and we’ll supply you with a better girl. All the while, McCall is observing his every move, while watching Slavi’s gang of thugs like a hawk. With Sherlock Holmes precision, McCall calculates how he’ll exact revenge. This is the beginning of a slow simmering war between ex-special ops agent McCall and the Russian mob.

“The Equalizer” marks the second outing writer/director Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington have worked together since the award-winning “Training Day.” Fuqua directs this nail biting thriller with finesse, drawing out parallels of Robert McCall’s life and the characters he reads about in those classic novels. The novels in question would be “The Old Man and the River,” “Don Quixote” and “The Invisible Man.” Even though his outward appearance is that of an average guy, some semblance of a hero reveals itself when he’s faced with the most evil of foes. A famous Mark Twain saying is posted at the beginning of the film, suggesting even more of a heroic theme. It states “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” After writer Richard Wenk sum up an excellent back-story, Fuqua now goes for the jugular in the second act. Not pulling for explosive – loud action movie tropes- Fuqua allows McCall to uncoil slowly. Once Washington’s character dispenses street justice, his take downs are swift, deadly and very violent. Yet McCall is a killing machine with a conscience, giving his enemies an ultimatum to do what is right. Some of his enemies comply; others will be shown no mercy.

I give the entire cast kudos for their performances, because that’s a part of this films effectiveness. Just as Washington is crafty in his usage of everyday objects as weapons, the actors who play his most formidable foes range in different levels of evil. David Meunier plays Slavi, the first of McCall’s enemies. Meunier plays him with such a pompous demeanor, you want him to be plucked off like the scum he is. Marton Csokas in the role of Teddy is the next level of baddie whom takes over from Slavi. His demonic body art/tattoos say it all, by far he’s the kind of calculating criminal you’d want to steer away from. There are a few nerve racking scenes where the two of them play cat and mouse. It’s like watching a chess match of how they’ll trip each other up. He’s intelligent, powerful and just as crafty as McCall. Vladimir Pushkin (Vladimir Kulich) is the puppet master pulling the strings of this Eastern European crime syndicate, yet he sounds more troublesome than we see in the film. There is a scene near the end of the movie where McCall confronts Pushkin reminiscent of Angelina Jolie in “Salt.”

I’m not sure what Bill Pullman’s role is all about, but I know there is some connection between him and McCall. In this outing, Pullman has a low key role as Brian Plummer, who is a comfort Washington’s character. Melissa Leo (Washington’s co-star in “Flight”) plays Susan Plummer, the intelligence agent whom worked previously with McCall. Her character mainly provides emotional support, as well as gives “McCall” permission to unleash his wrath. Chloe Grace-Moretz shines through as the precocious teenaged call girl Teri, who makes a connection with the lonesome McCall.

While “The Equalizer” doesn’t provide the same kind of emotional connection as “Man on Fire,” another one of Washington’s well received films, it does provide the audience with a nail biting, blood pumping heroic saga. One that holds it’s own with his aging action hero counter parts as in “The Expendables.” I would call this Denzel Washington’s version of “Salt.” And surely there will be a sequel as suggested by its open ended closing. I thoroughly got a kick out of it.