Denzel Washington’s The Equalizer trilogy concludes this weekend, which implies now’s the right time to look again on the sequence and rank them from greatest to worst. Personally, none of them are terrible, however one of many movies positively stands out amongst the opposite two. The place does this newest entry rank among the many franchise? Learn on to search out out.
3. The Equalizer 3 (2023)
Effectively, that was bizarre. After two stable action-driven movies, Antoine Fuqua and Washington determined to subvert expectations and ship a darkish, meandering, somber character drama as the massive sendoff. The Equalizer 3 has a handful of standout moments — that restaurant scene bristles with pressure — however is so scatterbrained that it’s usually onerous to observe. Or possibly I didn’t care.
If the primary two functioned as schlocky, violent, vigilante thrillers, Half 3 borrows its cues from the Ip Man franchise and principally follows Washington’s world-weary murderer as he mingles with the native townsfolk. That’s utterly effective. The truth is, there have been occasions I wanted the film wouldn’t resort to bloodshed and as a substitute linger on Robert McCall’s relationship along with his kindly physician or that stunning waitress. Hell, I loved watching the person traverse a John Wick: Chapter 4-esque sequence of stairs to get himself again in form.
Washington’s charisma carries the movie via its slower moments, whereas Fuqua makes probably the most of his beautiful Southern Italy panorama. The place the pic falters is in its clunky script and lackluster villains. Right here, Robert combats a ruthless drug seller who makes use of farms to move his product… ah, who cares? The dangerous guys exist so Robert can kick ass between his tea and low breaks. Besides, this time round, the motion is essentially hidden in shadows and offered with an ominous rating that feels extra applicable for Michael Myers than Robert McCall. We nonetheless cheer on his quest for justice, however there’s an eerie, nearly unhinged stage of depravity to his actions—he’s borderline psychotic, although the movie by no means explores his lust for blood.
Actually, The Equalizer 3 doesn’t discover a lot or say something. Fuqua presents concepts however by no means follows via with them. Washington’s Man On Hearth co-star Dakota Fanning pops up for a subplot that goes nowhere, and the massive payoff is so simply executed that it lacks any real thrills.
As all the time, it’s enjoyable to observe Washington strut his stuff on the massive display screen. As a fan of the primary two Equalizer movies, nonetheless, I used to be upset to see his distinctive skills go to waste. Maybe a second viewing is so as now that I do know what to anticipate.
2. The Equalizer 2 (2018)
Regardless of missing the freshness of its predecessor, The Equalizer 2 delivers all the things you need after which some. The motion pops, Washington is participating as ever, and the human drama carries sufficient weight to maintain you invested throughout the slower components. The primary plot isn’t all that memorable, however Pedro Pascal portrays the villain properly, and the finale’s motion sequence set in a tropical storm packs a wallop!
1. The Equalizer (2014)
It’s onerous to imagine almost a decade has handed since Washington first appeared onscreen because the mysterious Robert McCall, a kindly, quiet House Depot employee possessing a depraved set of abilities and a disdain for dangerous guys. Alas, time has been form to The Equalizer, principally as a result of it seems like one thing out of a less complicated time. There isn’t a overarching social commentary, no blunt political statements, and nobody ever questions McCall’s resolve. Right here, our hero sees dangerous issues occur, places down his e-book, and exacts bloody justice. Easy and efficient.
Fuqua adorns this vigilante fantasy in darkish shadows and ratchets the violence to squeamish ranges. But, he takes the time to introduce characters and construct pressure in order that when the massive moments arrive, they hit like a nuclear bomb.
The Equalizer by no means rises above its B-movie trappings, however there’s loads right here to get pleasure from, from Washington’s commanding efficiency to the handful of expertly offered set items. That is the film Taken wished to be — The Equalizer rocks!