The Equalizer

Denzel Washington and his previous films are a bit of an oddity in Hollywood as I see it.

On one hand, you have this Hollywood legend...easily one of the  best actors out there right now...and he stars in films that are usually pretty good, but ones that would be absolutely nothing without him.

He certainly leans towards certain scripts, one where I think he agrees with the protagonist on a moral level most of the time. But I'm often left wondering why he doesn't get better parts, with the exceptions of a few here and there. Ones that will win him an Oscar, get him copious amounts of money, etc.

With that discussion in the back of everyone's mind, I'd like to proudly state that The Equalizer is one of his better, more sustainable films in years. It won't win him any awards, no, and it's not without its flaws, but this is very easily Denzel's Taken. It's the film that will remind audiences how good he can be and why he is often the center of almost every movie he is in. Whether it launches into a franchise or causes Washington to be type cast as often as Neeson is remains to be seen, but as a building block in a new chapter of Denzel's storied career, The Equalizer entertained me from start to finish.

"You fart while I shoot! We'll call it a shart!"

As mentioned, The Equalizer has some issues. Mainly, that it is overlong at 131 minutes. There weren't many scenes that I would have cut off the top of my head, but there were some that I would have edited down and sped up. The movie uses quite a bit of slow motion (often to good effect), but at times it's unnecessary. In addition, the first 30-45 minutes of the film are setting up Denzel's character, which is all good and fine, but there are just certain scenes where the film thinks it needs to show us every detail, much like the OCD badass, Robert McCall (Washington). An example of this would be the very first scene of the film that starts in McCall's apartment and shows us his morning routine. All necessary stuff for us to connect and understand the character, but just done in a bit of a slower manner than I would have liked. Multiply that by several scenes throughout the film and you have an extra 20 minutes that probably wasn't necessary. My additional complaint about the film is that it's all rather clichéd. McCall ends up pissing off the Russian mob and they send their overly tattooed baddies to take him down. It plays out exactly as you would predict and the film, somewhat exhaustingly and annoyingly, makes sure to cross every T and dot every I. Part of me appreciates it, but for a film that has no reason to be 131 minutes another part of me wished that they would've just wrapped up the damn film already. Even the action, which I'll discuss more later, is a bit clichéd but it's a far easier sin to forgive this time around.

Are you in the NBA?

So far, I've been ripping on The Equalizer pretty hard. In all honesty, none of the issues I pointed out above are all that terrible when you consider that the film has one main factor: Denzel Washington. He is an absolute powerhouse in this film and his character seemed very real and well crafted for the entirety of the film. Sure the film has some other actors/actresses in it with the main highlights being Chloe Grace Moretz and Marton Csokas, but The Equalizer is 98% Washington's (just a random estimate) and he delivers. Again, this isn't going to get him any awards, but as an OCD ex-operative who likes to do the right thing for people who deserve it, Washington soars. He's the real-life superhero...the Batman that doesn't need a mask. Despite the film's clichés and overlong run time, I feel like I could have watched another half hour of Denzel whooping up on Russian fools. Which leads me to my next point. The action was much like Neeson's aforementioned Taken. Not special by any means, but it was filmed remarkably well, creates a bit of it's own style (especially with the OCD aspect of McCall), and adds a bit of it's own flare. The Equalizer is no hand slap affair; it gets bloody and it doesn't make any apologies about it. Some of the action scenes are better than others, but the initial beat down and the finale were both mesmerizing and Washington proves he is still limber enough to hang with the best of them (you listening Expendables 4?).

"Look at the hand, look at the hand, look at the hand...
surprise knife to the gut! Ha!"

The Equalizer really came off as a surprise for me. I went it expecting much less and came out getting a far more entertaining time than I expected. It's truly an example of an "average/good" movie being made "good/great" by an awesome lead and some well choreographed scenes.

Let's just hope they don't blow a sequel the way Taken 2 did (I just can't quit harping on that film can I?)

CONS:

• For the type of film that this is, it's far too long. I appreciate that they didn't try to split it up into two films, but there were just instances where they could have sped up what they were trying to do. Then you add on the fact that every loose end has to be tied up and you have a film that's arguably a half hour longer than it has any right to be
• Sports a somewhat confusing tone. At times it seems like an epic crime drama, and others (like when the guitar and slow motion kick in) it seems like it's a pure action flick. Granted those aren't exactly polar opposites so it usually works but at times it creates an odd divide
• On paper the plot is very clichéd. In film, it still is, but to a somewhat lesser degree
• A bit corny at times

PROS:

• Like many of his other lead films, The Equalizer would have been nothing without Denzel. Robert McCall isn't the hardest character he has ever had to portray, but Washington becomes him regardless
• Pretty good soundtrack
• The supporting cast does a good job. Shoutouts to Chloe and Marton
• Superbly filmed action that is not forgiving. Denzel wrecks the Russian mob and takes no prisoners. Some pretty creative kills and an often strong use of slow motion
• Good cinematography throughout
• As the hopeful beginnings of a franchise, this is a solid first entry

Rath's Review Score: 8/10