The Equalizer

Denzel Washington is back.... with a bang (as always).

I struggle a lot because I watched Taken before watching any Denzel Washington films so I have trouble not comparing his action films to Taken. So putting all that aside let's take time to review 'The Equalizer'.

There was a story to it and I actually really liked the film. The mystery behind it remained a mystery throughout and just set up the door for another film about his past. Denzel Washington plays secretive very well. He has that stare which doesn't give anything away. It's not an angry stare, just a blank stare that shows absolutely no expression whatsoever and it's almost intimidating without it really trying to be so.

This guy is as terrifying as Liam Neeson but in a completely different way. You can see the anger in Neeson's eyes but Washington makes you instantly feel fear. I don't want to spend the entire post talking about Denzel Washington because it was another masterclass performance from Marton Csokas (Kingdom of Heaven, Aeon Flux, XXX, Lord of The Rings). There's something about him that thoroughly convinces you that he is evil, even when he isn't. Not in the same way as Sir Christopher Lee who because of his voice and slightly sunken in eyes always appeared to be evil regardless of if he was or wasn't playing the bad guy. Marton Csokas is different. He is thoroughly believable as the bad guy but equally believable as the good guy- kinda like Sir Ian McKellen. I love him in everything that I have seen him in (and that's quite a lot from his IMDB list).

So back to the film. The film was done as if it was showing a double life. There was a clear split between what he did with his evenings and his work. I loved the separation because it showed that he wasn't a special ops guy that was undercover or he wasn't actually an agent, he was just a guy with training (and probably trained in the forces) that was making his way in the world by working in a store.

The way it was filmed, when it went through his eyes so that you could see what he was seeing was a stroke of genius. Sherlock almost managed it when you get his analysis but this just took it one step closer and actually went back through his eyes before turning so that you were looking out of Denzel Washington's eyes.

A very well done film in all aspects but at times perhaps a little too bloody. Could have got away with a 15 rating if they had toned down on some of the violence.