Film review: The Equalizer
One of the more underrated American television shows of the 1980s, The Equalizer starred British actor Edward Woodward as a former intelligence officer dishing out vigilante justice on the graffiti-stained streets of New York.
The Equalizer
Starring: Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloe Grace Moretz
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Category: IIB
Three stars
underrated American television shows of the 1980s, The Equalizer starred British actor Edward Woodward as a former intelligence officer dishing out vigilante justice on the graffiti-stained streets of New York. It featured Stewart Copeland's crashing synth-and-drum score over the menacing titles — pure '80s bombast, brilliantly packaged.
In this film update, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Denzel Washington (who also co-produces), there's not a trace of the 1980s or anything retro. Instead, it's a cold-blooded refit, which takes the basic premise, title and name of Woodward's character, Robert McCall, but leaves the rest behind — even Copeland's magnificent music.
On the surface, Washington's McCall is a good-natured employee at a hardware depot. He's quiet, well-read — we see him devouring Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea — and afflicted with some form of obsessive-compulsive behaviour, often rearranging objects around him. He's also got time for others, including his co-workers and Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz), the far-too-young Russian call girl who frequents his favourite diner.
After Teri's pimp beats her up, putting her in hospital, McCall takes matters into his own hands — visiting the Russian and his cronies to offer them US$9,800 for her freedom. When they laugh in his face, he takes them all out, single-handedly — one luckless man even gets a corkscrew through his chin.