People who have watched The Equalizer series just cannot help themselves but be fans of Denzel Washington– those who know, know. And waise bhi, 2023 has been a year for the OG action stars. Tom Cruise is still killing as Ethan Hunt, aur ab Denzel Washington also returns as Robert McCall for his final movie of The Equalizer trilogy– and he nails it once again. Yeah, the movie doesn’t offer anything original when it comes to action movies, but istg, it is such a blood-soaked, visually stunning experience from start to finish.
Plot
So this time, we have a small Sicilian town called Altamonte, jo dikhne mein jitni aesthetic hai, actually utni hi dangerous bhi. Imagine steep steps, a majestic church against a beautiful cliff by the sea… and a wicked mafia that rules over this place. Wahi doosri taraf, our man, Robert McCall, a former Marine and DIA officer, is in Sicily for a secret mission but gets wounded. Guess where he gets his treatment? No points for guessing it right– Altamonte. Bass phir kya, the storyline binds McCall’s need for redemption with the town’s struggle against the Mafia, and what results is a freaking feast for your eyes in a high-stakes battle for justice.
Performances
Yaar, how can you not love Denzel Washington?? The man is a legend, and in “The Equalizer 3,” he’s literally like a fine wine, getting better with time. The guy just puts in so much effort to breathe life into his characters. McCall’s guilt issues, his commitment to justice, and that all-black mysterious look – Denzel nails it all. Even the supporting cast, from Eugenio Mastrandrea as the local policeman Gio, to Remo Girone as the town doctor Enzo, does its job well. And it was sooo nostalgic to see Dakota Fanning make a comeback on screen after two decades. However, I expected more from the Mafia gang actors. I mean Denzel Washington ke saamne no one looks threatening enough, but it still looked very one-sided, idk.
Direction and Writing
Antoine Fuqua and Denzel have teamed up so many times now that they just can’t fck up even if they try to. I’ll be honest here– the story isn’t anything out of the box. It is like your fav comfort food – familiar and satisfying. But that’s where Fuqua does his magic, cuz he knows how to spice things up. And he does so through Denzel’s *chef kiss* performance. You can’t help but be intrigued by the world of the mafia and root for McCall once you start watching the movie. For me, it was the perfect blend of the usual and the unexpected, creating a thrilling experience that keeps you hooked.
Screenplay and Cinematography
Unlike the first two Equalizer movies, this one goes into the mental health zone, compelling you to feel for McCall. This is something I’ve seen a lot this year. Movies have worked on the mental health aspect to make it more relatable to the audience, and I’m not complaining! Anyway, so as I said, the plot is a bit like déjà vu, but Marcelo Zarvos’s nerve-wracking background music and Robert Richardson’s eye for beautiful shots enhance it by a mile. Such wonderful scores and frames man, maza aagaya. The screenplay seamlessly weaves action, drama, and a touch of mental health drama to make it even more believable. The scenes in Altamonte look like they’re straight out of a postcard, and the cinematography is so on point that you are forced to invest yourself in the story.
All in all, in a world full of action thrillers and sequels, “The Equalizer 3” stands tall, and Denzel Washington is the major reason. It’s a bloody, brutal, and oh-so-beautiful spectacle that wraps up the trilogy with style. As Denzel takes his final run as the equalizer, you realize why he’s been a boss in the business for so long. It might not be groundbreaking, but it’s damn entertaining. What a satisfying end to one of my favorite movie series mannn. Here’s to Denzel Washington, cheers!
