The Equalizer (2014) | Movie Review

In The Equalizer, Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall is a quiet, habitual hermit of a man. Every day is exactly the same as he begins his shift at his local Home Depot-esque store, followed by eating, reading, and even sleeping on a very precise schedule. While navigating his daily routine, McCall unwittingly befriends call girl Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz), whom he quickly becomes protective of.

After Teri is left horribly beaten in retaliation for attempting to escape her tortured life, McCall’s dark past as a special ops soldier takes over and he viciously murders the assailants. Unknown to McCall, these men worked for the Russian mob and now war is coming, and it is headed straight for Robert McCall in the form of malicious assassin, Teddy (Marton Csokas).

If you would have told my very young TV-addicted self that, in 30 years or so, I would see the doctor from St. Elsewhere playing the ultra-cool Robert McCall from The Equalizer, I would have laughed you right off of my couch. Yet here we are, almost 30 years later, watching Denzel ‘St. Elsewhere’ Washington redefining the very meaning of ultra-cool.

The last few years, Denzel Washington has starred in numerous action-centered roles. Some memorable (The Book of Eli), many not so much (Safe House, 2 Guns). Reteaming with his Training Day director, Antoine Fuqua, was a masterstroke as his Robert McCall is the strongest and most copacetic performance Washington has offered in this genre since that earlier film. McCall is not a man burning for violence nor does he desire it, he is simply good at leveling the playing field and solidifying results.

We have seen this style of film retold numerous times: The hardened veteran trying to escape his past, only to be sucked back into violence by the callous actions of a vicious group or even nation. Rarely are these characters portrayed by thespians who could perform an acting ballet in their sleep, as Washington does here. The slow burn opening of the film gives us enough time to observe the conflict brewing within Washington’s McCall as he finally understands how he can put his specific set of skills to the most effective use – as tools to help the helpless.

As he attempts to walk out of a situation and repeatedly slams the door shut, quietly debating his impending visceral reaction. His pompously arrogant standoff with Teddy, where McCall conveys exactly how threatening he truly is, with little more than a few random glances and personal tics. These are the marks of a talented actor elevating a tired cliché and, by the end of the film, you will absolutely believe Denzel is the right man to call the next time those crazy kids are peddling meth in your backyard.

There are solid performances in minor roles from the likes of Moretz, Melissa Leo, and even Bill Pullman, but these films are rarely successful unless you find a villain with the right amount of panache. Marton Csokas’ Teddy is sadistic, determined, and absolutely delightful to watch. Exuding the aura of a Russian Kevin Spacey, Csokas sashays into a scene, spilling blood and chewing scenery as a one-man assassination squad, then rollicks onward toward his impending desolation. McCall demands a formidable foe and Csokas gleefully fulfills the quota. All of the bodies in between are little more than collateral damage, eating up screen time until these two finally collide.

Antoine Fuqua (Olympus Has Fallen) deftly handles the action scenes, even incorporating his own version of McCall Vision (the action stops as McCall observes the potential assailants and weapons in slow-motion), which works more proficiently than it honestly has any right to. These types of camera tricks have been exhausted since Bullet Time, yet here Fuqua does just enough with it to make it feel fresh. For such a long-forgotten TV series, I also commend Fuqua for his numerous nods to the original series. From several musical cues to various visual touches (Denzel emerging from smoke-filled ruins was a beautiful ode to the series’ opening credits), Fuqua meticulously treated the material with the fervor longtime fans richly deserved.

Overall, The Equalizer was a taut yet fun action-thriller that thrives on the riveting performances of its two stars. Washington succeeds yet again, only this time we walk away not only satisfied, but hungry for more. In his 30 year film career, Denzel Washington has never made a sequel. In Robert McCall, we finally have a character that demands one.

Starring Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloe Grace Moretz
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
Written by Richard Wenk

Aaron Peterson
The Hollywood Outsider