Nine seconds. That’s what I’ll give to decide your fate.
Robert McCall
Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua return for their fifth collaboration in The Equalizer 3, the third and final installment of the Equalizer trilogy. This time around, law abiding citizen and vigilante Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) is enjoying retired life in a small village on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, where, as usual, he finds himself in trouble with the Italian Mafia.
Compared to the first two films, this film is generally paced more slowly, with fewer action sequences and more time spent on character and societal development, with McCall exploring the village of Altamonte and its kind hearted local citizens. As always, the highlight of the film remains Denzel Washington’s acting. At 68, he shows no signs of stopping, and throughout the film his character McCall is always calm, relaxed and confident, even in tense situations (there’s a good dinner scene that exemplifies this). The audience knows when he gives you ‘the look’ you know the crime bosses are screwed and no match for this OG.
The action sequences, albeit less frequent, remain another highlight of the film with some brilliant R-rated violent sequences of McCall killing people in ingenious and inventive ways, akin to the John Wick films and Logan, as he carries out his operations to dispatch his adversaries. This is complemented by some good cinematography from Robert Richardson, with the location filming and landscape panoramas giving Altamonte an authentic feel in its churches, cafes, shops and homes. Denzel’s frame and shadow also remain ever present in the action sequences.
Disappontingly, Dakota Fanning is given little to do here as a CIA analyst-turned-field- agent as her story arc involving narcotics and drug smuggling barely overlap with McCall’s goals in the village. Whilst they have a charismatic energy together with some witty dialogue, sadly her subplot isn’t nearly as engaging or interesting compared to McCall taking down the Italian Mafiosos of the village. It is however nice to see them acting together again since 2004’s Man on Fire.
Frustratingly, the Italian Camorra are also one-dimensional villains and henchman with little character development or backstory, with overall little tension or danger, especially in the somewhat underrwhelming final shootout and ending of the film, compared to the excellent warehouse sequence of the original film.
Whilst not reaching the heights and thrills of the original film, The Equalizer 3 is still an enjoyable action film with a healthly dose of gleefully satisfying R-rated action sequences. It is a fitting end to think of Robert McCall retired and at peace with his new community in a small Italian town.
Rating: 6/10
Andrew Reviews 