The Equalizer 3

Released September 3, 2023

Directed by Antoine Fuqua

* No spoilers *

I love Denzel Washington. He can elevate a mediocre movie to something iconic just by his presence. The Equalizer movies are a great example. The series is like countless others in the action sub-genre where an aged out ex-assassin reluctantly returns to their profession. The Equalizer 3 and it's predecessors rank right in the middle of the pack, much better than the Taken series but nowhere near as enjoyable as any of the John Wick movies. This newest instalment isn’t groundbreaking but Denzel is clearly given a chance to have fun with the role and that alone makes this worth it for any fan of his work.

This is is by far the most visually appealing of the series. The cinematography is stunning with dark inky blacks and tons of focus on the texture of each location. Many scenes take place at night or in dimly lit rooms and the shots take advantage of this by presenting characters as backlit silhouettes. It should be no surprise that everything looks great, as cinematographer Robert Richardson (Air, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) has shown his talents working on all of Quentin Tarantino’s recent projects.

What stood out most was how director Antonie Fuqua (Training Day, Emancipation) depicts the duality of Denzel's character. He is a charming quiet gentleman who transforms into a cold heartless killer when he sees people being wronged. When this happens Fuqua makes Denzel feel like a horror movie monster. Lurking in the shadows and exacting sadistic retribution on the gangsters and mafia thugs he is dealing with. At times the violence is so gratuitous that it could be off putting to some viewers.

I wasn’t expecting a deep or complicated story but even with lowered expectations, it was weak and forgettable. I don’t need events to be overly dramatic but I did not feel engaged or invested in what was happening. The villains are caricatures with little to no interesting or redeeming qualities. It’s very cliche, committing every horrible act without remorse so that we feel no sympathy when they get their comeuppance. That lack of sympathy was where the impact stopped. I had little emotional interest or real reaction to anything other then the grotesqueness of the violence. There is also a subplot about Syrian militants and drug dealing that lacked any purpose or commentary on any other themes in the story. It didn't add anything and felt unnecessary.

Where Equalizer 3 shines is in Denzel's performance. Everyone else in the cast is largely forgettable, but lets not kid ourselves, this is about Denzel, everyone else should be secondary. As usual he is brilliant. There are amazing dialogue scenes where he just monologues as only he can do. The lines are not special but his delivery makes them instantly memorable. He tells someone “I wouldn’t want to spoil it for you” but pauses between each word to dip his teabag in his cup. The line is innocuous so I can't imagine it would have been written like that in the script but it's already become a meme. This is Denzel being amazing and entertaining to watch as he always is. The movie is full of these moments and I loved them.

I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone but if you like Denzel and don’t mind gratuitous violence you will enjoy this. You don't even need to have seen the first two movies, this is a stand alone story with a few callbacks at the end that won't hinder the experience if you don't understand them. If you aren't a fan of the franchise, this sub-genre, or Denzel, this isn’t something you should go out of your way to see.

6/10 - Know what to expect and enjoy it for what it is. A solid action movie with cheesy villains, lots of gore, and a servicable story. Nothing special but worth it for Denzel’s performance alone.

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