Equalizer 3 Review: Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua reteam for a sojourn in

Armed with gorgeous cinematography, a menacingly in-control Denzel Washington performance and the inclusion of Dakota Fanning propels Equalizer 3 to series-best status.

After suffering serious injuries, Rober McCall winds up in a doctor’s care in Altamonte, a small town in Southern Italy. As he recuperates, McCall begins to look at the idyllic small town as his home. Unfortunately, the Italian mafia is trying to make inroads as well. While in Italy, he helps CIA operative Emma Collins (Fanning) connect the dots between the mafia and a terrorist organization.

It’s easy to see why McCall shows such an affinity for Altamonte. Every shot by cinematographer Robert Richardson is gorgeous. Fuqua does a great job keeping the film at an intentionally slow pace that slowly enthralls rather than drags. As McCall comes to care for the residents of Altamonte, so does the viewer, which makes the violence more effective.

Washington has never been better as McCall than in Equalizer 3. Capable of shifting between charming and terrifying with the slightest inflection, Washington brings so much internal history to this character.

Helping to bring out the charming side is a reunion of sorts with Fanning. Washington and Fanning co-starred in Man on Fire nearly 20 years ago in 2004. Fanning and Washington have an easy chemistry that brings out a less heavy-handed mentor side to McCall than in the first Equalizer film. Why he’s helping a young CIA operative is pretty predictable, but it works well in setting up a spinoff involving Fanning.

The action sequences aren’t as crisp or relentless as the John Wick franchise. However, McCall possesses even more of a boogeyman quality than Baba Yaga. McCall’s ability to hunt people down slowly and with precision is terrifying.

Equalizer 3 has the same weakness as the other films in the franchise. Throughout the franchise, there hasn’t been a villain that could stand toe-to-toe with McCall. The Italian mafia is no exception. However, it’s not as much of a detriment in Equalizer 3 because Fuqua, Richard Wenk‘s screenplay and Washington turn the 3rd act into a horror film.

Equalizer 3′s ending kind of just peters out. However, Washington and Fuqua make Equalizer 3 a fitting finale for the ever-searching redemption of McCall.

Equalizer 3 Review Score: 8

Great

With the overview out of the way, let’s look at the standout moments from McCall’s latest adventure. The Equalizer films are available to stream on Hulu.

Redemption in Italy in Equalizer 3

After single-handedly taking down a drug outfit masquerading as a winery, McCall is wounded after letting his guard down. A police officer finds McCall unconscious and bleeding out in a car. He takes McCall to a doctor who tells the officer to report the incident as a fall instead of a bullet wound.

After regaining consciousness, he slowly begins to recuperate with a cane in hand. McCall begins to warm up to the town and starts to adapt to Altamonte. Unfortunately, he’s not the only person who sees the appeal of Altamonte. The Camorra sees Altamonte as an opportunity for hotels and casinos. They’re putting more pressure on local businesses and police.

Meanwhile, as McCall heals, he starts to ponder the possibility of redemption. Can a man who has inflicted as much violence as he has ever really have peace or is his purpose to preserve peace for others? Once the Camorra becomes more aggressive, McCall leans into the latter while working to find the former.

Washington is unsurprisingly terrific. There’s not a ton of dialogue until Fanning shows up in Italy, yet Washington makes it easy to understand how Altamonte is changing him.

Agent Collins

McCall has some interactions beyond the confines of Italy. He reaches out to Collins. She’s a CIA operative with no field experience. He provides a tip regarding the winery being a drug outfit.

After his tip pays off, she tracks him down in Alatamonte. The fact she’s able to locate McCall doesn’t surprise him at all. Collins doesn’t know who he is or why he reached out but is intrigued by him. During their initial conversation, McCall doesn’t provide much information at all. In fact, he lays out exactly what Collins is going to do.

However, as Equalizer 3 continues McCall slowly imparts some of his wisdom to Collins and even uses her to deliver the money he originally recovered at the winery to rightful owners.

Collins ties in nicely with the overall franchise. The dialogue between Washington and Fanning during their initial face-to-face is the best exchange in the whole franchise. McCall is absolutely sizing up Collins to see what she’s all about. Fanning shines in showing she’s in new territory out in the field, but has solid instincts.

I just wish there were more scenes involving Fanning and Washington. As a franchise ender, it does feel strange to introduce such a big character. If anything, her inclusion indicates a mentor-mentee relationship moving forward rather than a handoff.

The Boogeyman

The tension between McCall and the Camorra builds to a terrifying sequence of suspense in the 3rd act.

The Camorra are working to convert the friendly streets lined with family businesses into casinos and hotels. McCall hangs back at first. He just watches, then after a police officer is beaten in front of his family for investigating a fire set at one of the family businesses, McCall intervenes. He warns Marco Quaranta to leave the town alone. Gio leaves the restaurant and McCall follows. The cycle of violence begins again as McCall’s actions draw Marco’s older brother Vincent’s attention.

McCall orchestrates a one-man assault on Vincent’s home. The way McCall hunts them down and even tortures these men is horrific.

The only issue with the villains is there’s never a moment when they come across as a threat to McCall. Suspense is built only through how McCall kills these men, not whether McCall survives. There is an interesting subplot about the Camorra’s ties to the drug network, but the criminal empire crumbles before that story can take flight.

Once the climax occurs, the film slowly comes to an end. There’s a heartwarming moment with Collins, but it’s not clear whether this is really the end of the franchise or not.

Equalizer 3 final thoughts

Overall, Equalizer 3 is a violent ending to the franchise and features another wonderful performance by Washington. The villains may not pack much of a punch, but Washington and Fanning’s chemistry as well as a great setting pick up the slack.

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