The Trailer:
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Cast: Denzel Washington, Martin Csokas, & Chloë Grace Moretz
Synopsis: Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a man with a mysterious past, decides to help a young girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) who is being controlled by Russian gangsters.
This is a movie for pure pleasure. It's not thought-provoking or any deeper than what is displayed on screen. It's action-packed, fast paced, and with an undoubtedly happy ending: The type of film I like to call "junk-food cinema". Because, like junk food, the movie provides no sustenance but it's still good. And for being such a movie, it is a tad bit long. It definitely could've been shortened, but I can deal with the running time. This is the story of a man who thought he had left a brutal past behind to live a quiet life. But after witnessing some good people being treated badly by bad people, he has to muster that brutal past up in order to help save the good, set things right. By the way, this movie is based on a TV series of the same name that ran in the 80''s; I've never seen the show, but I think the movie might have actually done it justice.
At first I was a little annoyed with Denzel's character. There was no defining reason why Robert McCall, a meek man who works at a home improvement store, should possess the types of skills that he has. So I was just kind of thinking this was another movie involving a hero-figure who has no apparent training but can withstand and outsmart any obstacle that comes his way *yawn*. But it is later implied that he used to have some type of government job where he needed to have those types of skills; skills that, you know, allow him to take down about six men in twenty-eight seconds. Impressive! After I was over that annoyance with his character, I could finally appreciate his badassery (yes that's a word!). He is impeccable in his timing and always calm and collected. Any surprise that came his way, he met with a poker face. Though he doesn't speak much— speaking is unnecessary when you're kicking ass— when he does, it is with purpose and mostly to give the "villains" a chance to redeem themselves, usually to no avail. Denzel Washington did a fine job as Robert McCall, a true hero, doing what he can for all the good people. And it was a joy to watch him in all his bloody glory (there is quite a bit of blood in the fighting sequences. YASSS!!) and triumph! Martin Csokas also did a fantastic job as Teddy, the guy sent by the Russian mob to take care of things when the American sect of the mob can't do their job. He is callous and a true counter-part to Robert McCall, except he is fighting in the name of the bad people. And I was just so impressed with is ability to show such heartlessness seconds after being completely composed. He is an amazing character to watch. I was sad, however, that Chloë Grace Moretz's character didn't have as much screen time, though she doesn't really contribute to the overall story. She is mostly just the catalyst to Robert McCall's evolution to finding his true self hidden under the meek façade that he had created. Even still, I love Chloë Grace Moretz and would've liked to see more of her.
Overall, The Equalizer is a good movie, not without it's hiccups but they can be overlooked. It kind of has this overall message that in this life you have to be who you were meant to be, even if it's something you're afraid of. So I guess it has a little sustenance, not entirely empty. Would I watch it again? Yes, I would. Also, there is a sequel coming out next year, I believe, so I will definitely be seeing that as well.
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