Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington deliver an action sequel that may not bring new audiences into the fold but should please those already invested in this violent series. The Equalizer 3 finds retired government sniper Robert McCall finding a community in a picturesque part of Italy — and mobster higher-ups who deserve to be crushed under his heel.
Antoine Fuqua
It isn’t quite as dazzling or complex as its predecessors, but The Equalizer 3 hits all of the right notes. Denzel Washington is as powerful and charismatic as ever, and director Antoine Fuqua is content to let him shine in the prime wire film’s many action sequences. He is also more adept at eschewing twists and complications in favor of keeping the story brisk and efficiently straightforward.
The Equalizer 3 may not break any new ground, but it is the best of its kind. It has all of the audacious violence and familiar set pieces that made the first two films so satisfying, but this time around it feels less like a calculated action flick and more like a wistful goodbye to its titular character.
It’s a fitting end to a trilogy that began with a violent reimagining of the Man On Fire archetype and continued with an expansion on how characters with flaws can be as compelling as those who are pure and untarnished. And while this film wouldn’t rank high on Washington’s career top 10, it vividly encapsulates the power of his persona as a righteous avenger of wrongs.
The Equalizer 3 demands a strong stomach. Its many scenes of loud bullets, body impalement and maiming are brutal in a way that doesn’t feel exploitative or cruel but rather imbued with such earnest goodness that it’s easy to accept and even applaud. That carries over to the movie’s climax, which is a Peckinpah-wannabe pulp that is both exciting and memorable. But more than anything else, this is a film about Denzel Washington, and he makes the most of it. He’s the only actor who can make a movie about a guy who kills for good look so damn cool. That’s why he deserves every penny of the movie’s box office receipts.
Denzel Washington
Antoine Fuqua reunites with Denzel Washington for the third and final big-screen installment in his Equalizer trilogy, pitting McCall against the mafia in a picturesque part of Italy. The director and star have a long history together (Training Day, Man on Fire, The Magnificent Seven) and are at ease with one another. This comfort ensures that the movie is seamless and will play well to those already familiar with the series. But that doesn’t mean the film is without its issues.
Continuing the franchise’s tradition of brutal violence, The Equalizer 3 is unrelenting in its exploitation. But it also ups the ante with a more layered and psychologically challenging central character. Washington delivers a remarkable performance as McCall, whose vengeance against criminals is balanced by an innate sense of justice and fairness.
The Equalizer 3 feels more like a drama than an action flick, which gives the film an emotional depth it wouldn’t have otherwise had. That’s in large part due to Washington’s exceptional acting. He carries the film with his stately presence, even when the film is in the midst of a bloody battle sequence. His interactions with his fellow characters are more thoughtful and revealing than the ones in previous Equalizer films, and he’s never less than magnetic.
Anyone who wasn’t charmed by the first two Equalizer films won’t be won over by The Equalizer 3. But fans of Washington and/or the genre will likely find the film to be cathartic, entertaining, and worthwhile. Dakota Fanning, who plays Emma Collins, a CIA agent whom Robert unofficially takes under his wing, is a welcome addition to the cast. She adds a much-needed element of youth to the story, and her and Washington have some electric moments together. The film’s opening sequence is both breathtaking and creative, and its ending ties things up in a satisfying way.
The Equalizer 3 Review
Director Antoine Fuqua and actor Denzel Washington have a cozy rapport when it comes to these action thrillers, and The Equalizer 3 doesn’t disappoint. This third installment of the series finds retired DIA agent Robert McCall (Washington) living in a picturesque coastal town in Italy. When a crime ring from the Sicilian Mafia threatens the community, he takes matters into his own hands to even up the scales of justice.
The film also finds the Equalizer reteaming with CIA operative Emma Collins (Dakota Fanning). But she isn’t a counterpoint to McCall; instead, she’s an ally who helps him deliver slick justice. While The Equalizer 3 isn’t the best in the series, it’s still a kinetically satisfying addition to the genre. And, thankfully, it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
In a world that’s inundated with older stars playing heroes whose special set of skills is matched by their unrelenting ruthlessness, The Equalizer 3 offers a welcome change of pace. In the film, Robert McCall brings a sense of humanity to his violence, and Fuqua demonstrates that he has the chops to match his co-star in this type of bloody cinematic endeavor.
In a genre that rivals slashers in its gore factor, these Equalizer films offer little room for moral ambiguity. The film positions Robert as a man of good standing, and all other characters fall into either the “good” or “bad” camps with no gray areas in between. Consequently, The Equalizer 3 has few surprises and feels like a movie that’s been seen before, but the dazzling scenery of Italy and Washington’s incomparable acting talent make it worth seeing. Just don’t expect it to blow your mind. This is an R-rated film, with plenty of violence and language. Runtime: 109 minutes.
