Denzel Washington
Marton Csokas
Chloë Grace Moretz
David Harbour
Bill Pullman
Melissa Leo

Richard Wenk

132 mins.
Action, Crime, Thriller
September 26, 2014

Rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, including some sexual references. (MPAA)

In Antoine Fuqua’s “The Equalizer,” Denzel Washington is back in his “Man on Fire” mode. He plays McCall, a man of routine, which belies an expertise that’s not fully revealed, at first. It won’t come as a shock when it is fully revealed, though … no shock at all.

McCall is preoccupied with time; he moves with precision via the guidance of a stopwatch. He dispenses wisdom to his younger coworkers at Home Mart (a knockoff of The Home Depot). One of those coworkers is an overweight young man who wants to apply for a security job. To help the young man get the job, McCall gives him advice on losing weight and getting in shape. McCall also shares his life philosophy with a young prostitute (Chloe Grace Moretz) who hangs out at the diner he frequents.

He’s a friendly loner, an older and temperamentally softer version of the titular character in “Le Samuraï” or George Clooney’s character in “The American.” For instance, he gives his targets a chance to express remorse before going to work on them: He’s fair; he’s … The Equalizer. (He posts an online ad with that name at the end of the film.)

Unfortunately for Washington and for us, director Fuqua seems to value style over substance. And it’s not like he’s some stylistic visionary. This is stuff we’ve seen before in many other crime dramas; there are lots of night shots and interior shots.

The first half of this film is dull; there’s no sizzle. The character building doesn’t go far enough and seems repetitive. We’re not given enough new information to warrant the time spent on that front.

As a result, the first time we see McCall in action (about 30 minutes in) is a lot less powerful than it could’ve been. There’s a weightiness to the first half of “The Equalizer” that doesn’t add any depth or richness to the story; it simply makes things sluggish. With this kind of script, sharp is the way to go. That’s why the second half of film (when McCall is hunted) is much more effective: It has narrative momentum. Fuqua took too long to get there, though. But, while there’s nothing new in that half of the film, the actors make it work.

Really, it’s Washington who holds the film together with an assured performance. He’s very comfortable in his skin, an approach that works for his character. You believe that there’s more to him than he lets on. But there’s nothing special in “The Equalizer” to support his efforts.

Verdict: OK to Somewhat Good

About: (Source: equalizer)

In The Equalizer, Denzel Washington plays McCall, a former black ops commando who has faked his death to live a quiet life in Boston. When he comes out of his self-imposed retirement to rescue a young girl, Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), he finds himself face to face with ultra-violent Russian gangsters. As he serves vengeance against those who brutalize the helpless, McCall’s desire for justice is reawakened. If someone has a problem, the odds are stacked against them, and they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer.