While not exactly a superhero film, The Equalizer plays close to common caricatures which have made these genre movies some of the most loved forms of escapism in cinema history. Denzel Washington’s character Robert McCall is a man of seemingly modest living by day, and by night (the majority of the film takes place after hours) he is an unstoppable, former CIA Special Forces agent with that really, really hates when the powerful prey on the powerless. Director Antoine Fugua, who worked with Denzel on the memorable Training Day, once again brings out the darker shades of Denzel’s character, painting him as a bright heart amid all the shadows and dull lighting that dominates the structure of the film.
The anonymous existence which Robert lives is helped along by a lowly job at a Home Depot-esque superstore, him acting as a personal trainer to a friend trying to lose weight, and his status as his local diner’s number one customer. Robert is a man who sticks by the clock – as evidenced by his strange obsession with the timing of things – and rearranging tables as if he has a slight obsessive compulsive personality disorder. This a man who is highly attune to his environment, a skill which assists him in suppressing his highly capable, ultra violent side. Robert witnesses injustice daily but it’s not until a fortuitous encounter with underage sex-worker Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz) does the extent of his inclinations for vigilantism began to seep through. Between spouting metaphors from The Old Man And The Sea and offering sage advice to pretty much everyone he comes across, Robert has a short fuse which runs out just about the same time Teri ends up in hospital with horrific bruises all over her face.
The intriguing thing about Robert is that he keeps his cool and calm demeanor even when he’s taking revenge against Teri’s pimp and his cohorts, who are just a small notch in but a large chunk of the Russian mob who control much of the city. With Robert’s unassuming nature, the brutal deaths of Russian mobsters is initially attributed to Irish criminals and the beginning of a turf war – which Robert has unwittingly started – begin to unravel. But just as things go one way, The Equalizer throws in some nice curve balls, mostly handled by wild card Teddy (Marton Csokas) who is sent in by Russian boss Vladimir Pushkin (Vladimir Kulich) to shake Robert from the city in his own sociopathic, deadpan way. Csokas is not only formidable as Robert’s antagonist, he rivals Denzel, constantly threatening to steal the show as he plays the villain with considerable flair.
While more similar to the dark and unstoppable force of John Reese (Jim Caviezel) from CBS’ brilliant Person of Interest than the 1980’s TV character of the movie’s source material, Robert’s presence throughout the film maintains the same warmth he shows from the opening credits, bringing both consistency and an increasingly violent aesthetic that knows when not to take itself too seriously. Fugua’s sense for atmosphere really works with the incredible face off Denzel and Csoka bring the screen, giving us a film that is far from the disappointment many may expect from watching the trailer.
Review Score: FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Running Time: 131 min
The Equalizer is out as of today 25th September 2014 through Roadshow Films.
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