MOVIE REVIEW - The Equalizer

The Equalizer is out this week with Denzel Washington.  I have always wondered what took this so long to come to the big screen, but now it's here.

For those who don't know, The Equalizer is based on a CBS-TV show that ran from 1985-1989 and starred a great actor named Edward Woodward.  It was an intense show, that was part of a real nice Wednesday block that consisted of Mike Hammer (Stacy Keach) at 8pm, Magnum P.I. (Tom Selleck) at 9pm  and The Equalizer (Woodward) at 10.

The Equalizer is named Robert McCall.  He is a retired secret agent of sorts.  He is middle aged, and worked for "The Agency."  He is a highly trained killer and spy, with mad skills in virtually every facet of extreme military training.  McCall is trying to leave that world behind and live a normal life under the radar, with no one knowing of his past.  But there is something within McCall, where he just can't let it go when he sees a horrible injustice, and he  - with the skills to make it right.  So when you have no where else to turn, you hire, The Equalizer.

In this addition, McCall (Washington) is working at a home improvement store.  He spends his nights in an all night cafe reading literature.  He then befriends a very young Russian prostitute (Chole-Grace Moretz) .  She is a nice young girl who wants better for herself, and McCall senses that.  One night she turns up beaten to a pulp by her pimps, and McCall has to do something.  As he pursues his plan of justice for the perpetrators, he discovers this is way bigger than he originally thought.  But he is undeterred.  McCall pushes on - alone as usual.

This is such a great premise as it is actually a superhero movie of sorts, with the difference being our hero is a real man. Yeah, it's a bit far fetched at times, but so what?  This, for it's shortcomings is always entertaining. Albeit, it may be a bit too long.  But what this really does well, is feel very much like the TV show.  And for me, that shows respect to the franchise, and not trying to rewrite an idea that was already well enough conceived.  They didn't just "borrow" the franchise.

As the show did, this is a slow burn effect.  It is in no hurry to tell it's story. The develop characters well, and write dialogue that is intelligent for an action movie.  This also has a dark feel to it, and a hugely masculine, hard driving soundtrack that is ominous, just like the TV show.  This is violent, but not gratuitously.  McCall can be a ruthless killer, even with his motives being just and pure. And he only targets those who need targeting.

Washington is very well cast, and word was that there were many that wanted this role, and you understand why, as there may be a bunch of these.  This is set up for more, and the premise lends itself well to it. Moretz, has joined the major leagues now starring with Washington. I am glad to see this as she is immensely talented and needs better projects.  Her character could be in future movies in this series as well. 

The Equalizer. This is not perfect, but this is quite good.   And a great chance to finally have a series that could have some great staying power.  

"Odds against you? Need help? Call the Equalizer."