When it comes to the current trend of old t.v. shows being remade for the big screen, they usually fall in to two catergories: meta comedies (21 Jump Street) or gritty actioners (The Sweeny). The Equalizer definitely falls into the latter camp. An ultra-violent take on the 80's series, with Denzel Washington replacing Edward Woodward as ex-special forces operative Robert McCall, who comes out of his self imposed retirement to help those who can't help themselves.
Director Antoine Fuqua (who previously guided Washington to an Oscar with Training Day) certainly has a handle on the material, and takes his time with the set up. The first act is a fantastic slow burn as we get to know the tortured McCall, who spends his days helping his co-workers at a hard ware super store, while his nights are spent at a local diner, sleep denied to him. Washington is effective as ever in this role. His McCall is a haunted shell of man, and he conveys so much about the character with a simple gesture or dead eyed stare. When McCall crosses paths with teenage prostitute Teri (Chloe Grace Mortez), the story kicks into high gear, and McCall enters the full on, bad ass vigilante stage of his life. Moretz is underused here, but that's because Teri is less a character and more of a plot device, existing only to get McCall where he needs to be (same goes for Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman). Once that's done, she's put on the shelf.
Once the set up is out of the way, Fuqua is still a bit coy when it comes to the actual 'equalizing'. Much of the action and violence is off screen and only referenced to. It does go some way to keeping tension, but is used far too often that it derails the story some what, especially in the second act. When it is time for the action, it is brief and brutal. Fuqua has a great eye for action, keeping the camera steady and tight, making these scenes horrifyingly intimate, and sprinkling in some great stylistic flourishes. The story in between is well told, and, despite some pacing issues and forgivable leaps of logic, is thoroughly entertaining, leading to a final act where McCall, and Fuqua, finally cut loose. Becoming a bald, African American Kevin McCallister, the finale sees McCall stalking and dispatching the bad guys, using any object to in wonderfully inventive ways (at one point, a barb wire noose comes into play). This leads to a thrilling climax, that admittedly goes on for one scene too many, and promises more adventures for this new Robert McCall.
Washington makes for a bad ass hero, with this movie effectively acting as his origin story. Quiet, calculating, and always one step ahead, he goes along way to making The Equalizer as much fun as it is. The one small problem I have with him is that McCall is too infallible, no one can touch him, and he seemingly can do no wrong. Any emotion Washington portrayed in the opening of the movie is washed away when he picks up his first gun, and while it doesn't make his performance any less enjoyable, it did become tiresome at times. He does have the perfect villain to play off in the form of Marton Csokas' Teddy, a fixer sent in after McCall unwittingly declares war on the Russian Mob. A less stable mirror for our hero, Teddy is soft spoken and unpredictable, a vicious rage simmering just underneath Csokas calm exterior which he taps to incredible effect.
While not The Equalizer some of us may know, Fuqua vision is a thrilling and entertaining action movie, with Washington on top form, and does leave you open to more adventures from Robert McCall.
Director Antoine Fuqua (who previously guided Washington to an Oscar with Training Day) certainly has a handle on the material, and takes his time with the set up. The first act is a fantastic slow burn as we get to know the tortured McCall, who spends his days helping his co-workers at a hard ware super store, while his nights are spent at a local diner, sleep denied to him. Washington is effective as ever in this role. His McCall is a haunted shell of man, and he conveys so much about the character with a simple gesture or dead eyed stare. When McCall crosses paths with teenage prostitute Teri (Chloe Grace Mortez), the story kicks into high gear, and McCall enters the full on, bad ass vigilante stage of his life. Moretz is underused here, but that's because Teri is less a character and more of a plot device, existing only to get McCall where he needs to be (same goes for Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman). Once that's done, she's put on the shelf.
Once the set up is out of the way, Fuqua is still a bit coy when it comes to the actual 'equalizing'. Much of the action and violence is off screen and only referenced to. It does go some way to keeping tension, but is used far too often that it derails the story some what, especially in the second act. When it is time for the action, it is brief and brutal. Fuqua has a great eye for action, keeping the camera steady and tight, making these scenes horrifyingly intimate, and sprinkling in some great stylistic flourishes. The story in between is well told, and, despite some pacing issues and forgivable leaps of logic, is thoroughly entertaining, leading to a final act where McCall, and Fuqua, finally cut loose. Becoming a bald, African American Kevin McCallister, the finale sees McCall stalking and dispatching the bad guys, using any object to in wonderfully inventive ways (at one point, a barb wire noose comes into play). This leads to a thrilling climax, that admittedly goes on for one scene too many, and promises more adventures for this new Robert McCall.
Washington makes for a bad ass hero, with this movie effectively acting as his origin story. Quiet, calculating, and always one step ahead, he goes along way to making The Equalizer as much fun as it is. The one small problem I have with him is that McCall is too infallible, no one can touch him, and he seemingly can do no wrong. Any emotion Washington portrayed in the opening of the movie is washed away when he picks up his first gun, and while it doesn't make his performance any less enjoyable, it did become tiresome at times. He does have the perfect villain to play off in the form of Marton Csokas' Teddy, a fixer sent in after McCall unwittingly declares war on the Russian Mob. A less stable mirror for our hero, Teddy is soft spoken and unpredictable, a vicious rage simmering just underneath Csokas calm exterior which he taps to incredible effect.
While not The Equalizer some of us may know, Fuqua vision is a thrilling and entertaining action movie, with Washington on top form, and does leave you open to more adventures from Robert McCall.
