The Equalizer 3 is equal parts violence and emotion and a fine closer to this series.
Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) finds solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Now living in Southern Italy, he soon discovers local crime bosses control his new friends. As events turn deadly, McCall becomes their protector by taking on the mafia.
The music is simple, yet powerful with a track that holds the spirit of the Equalizer with its instruments pounding and loud drums booming. It has so much in tone and when combined with powerful scenes and acting, it unleashes a unique moment that will make the theater shake.
The cinematography is one of the high points, and this movie does a great job of capturing so much with the shots they chose. The filters are fantastic in the way that they convey the mood, dark and foreboding at times and bright and hopeful in others, with a middle ground that shows the level of the threat. It captures so much of the settings and the feelings of the villains in their savagery, and the moments of dark dread and discovery to really bring it home. And then you add in the moments where the Equalizer does what he does best and adds that emotion audiences love in these movies.
Another small, yet effective trick this film uses is sound editing which helps add another layer to this film. It’s top-notch with those awesome sound bytes that bring you in at the right moment to emphasize the movie. Wet sounds of knives, gunshots ringing, and several other things add realistic horror that fans love.
The acting is another wonderful addition and the film’s setting welcomes the acting traits of the characters and the talents they bring. Dakota Fanning is great in this film. Fanning’s character may not be the most interesting or really intense CIA agent, but for the purpose of the character it all works out. Her dry delivery works with Denzel’s demeanor, making a sort of buddy-cop design, and has that charm that lightens the movie a bit without destroying the tones too much. And Denzel Washington of course is outstanding as he does so little and yet so much with his performance. His lines might be monotone and seldom waver from the calm neutral but the way he adds those little inflections, the little pauses, and those hints of surprise help give them life. While the physical acting and mannerisms are on a level all on their own, they give Washington’s character that other half that is scary and intense.
The Equalizer always has that underlying moral aspect that adds just the right touch of things to make things satisfying without getting too cheesy. The film does its best in terms of storytelling and it may not be the best in terms of unique plot lines or surprises, but what it suffers in cliche makes up for in execution.
Overall, The Equalizer 3 succeeds on many levels as it wraps up the series with the finish and polish that you hope this series will deliver. The movie has great sound editing and visual style that does a lot of lifting and adds that edge that this series is known for. Accompanied by a strong acting crew further helps in painting this little Italian family together, blending that attitude with great characters that become a central part of the story. Also, the story and morals that this series has are pretty well conceived, primarily the heavy moral components and the way it ties to the type of character the Equalizer is. It holds so many excellent moments with a set of finishes that are violent, but hold so much bite to them in many ways. And the way they tied everything together was classy and in check with this series. However, the movie is extremely dark and gory, easily earning its R-rating, and might make some viewers uncomfortable with the level of extreme violence it showcases. The story, mystery, and action didn’t quite make things worth the investment at times, but there is enough going for it that still holds that merit and wow factor to keep things entertaining.
The Equalizer 3 is now playing in theaters.
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