THE EQUALIZER (2014, USA, 131m, 15) ***
Action, Crime, Thriller
dist. Columbia Pictures; pr co. Columbia Pictures / CBS Films / Escape Artists / Lionsgate; d. Antoine Fuqua; w. Richard Wenk (based on the television series created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim); pr. Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Tony Eldridge, Mace Neufeld, Alex Siskin, Michael Sloan, Steve Tisch, Denzel Washington, Richard Wenk; ph. Mauro Fiore (DeLuxe | 2.35:1); m. Harry Gregson-Williams; ed. John Refoua; pd. Naomi Shohan; ad. David Lazan.
cast: Denzel Washington (Robert McCall), Marton Csokas (Teddy), Chloë Grace Moretz (Teri), David Harbour (Masters), Haley Bennett (Mandy), Bill Pullman (Brian Plummer), Melissa Leo (Susan Plummer), David Meunier (Slavi), Johnny Skourtis (Ralphie), Alex Veadov (Tevi), Vladimir Kulich (Vladimir Pushkin), E. Roger Mitchell (Lead Investigator), James Wilcox (Pederson), Mike O’Dea (Remar), Anastasia Mousis Sanidopoulos (Jenny), Allen Maldonado (Marcus), Rhet Kidd (Jay), Mike Morrell (HM Brian), Matt Lasky (Marat), Shawn Fitzgibbon (Little John Looney).
In this big-screen adaptation of the cult ‘80s TV show, Robert McCall (Washington) is a man of mysterious origin who believes he has put the past behind him. He dedicates himself to creating a quiet new life. However, when he meets Teri (Moretz), a teenager whom violent Russian mobsters have manhandled, he simply cannot walk away. With his formidable skills, McCall emerges from self-imposed retirement and emerges as an avenging angel, ready to take down anyone who brutalizes the helpless. Washington adds class to this exceedingly violent crowd-pleaser. Much of the plot stretches credulity, but some passages allow characters to breathe too. Fuqua’s intrusively flashy approach to the subject matter occasionally strangles the action set pieces. Followed by two sequels.
