Gratuitously violent and tedious in length, yet Denzel Washington's latest thriller is ridiculous fun. Written by Scott Gentry.

"The Equalizer" (15) 
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua.
Starring: Denzel Washijgton, Chloe Grace Moretz. 
Rated: 15 for containing strong bloody violence, sex references and strong language.
Running time: 131 minutes, 34s.
Released in UK cinemas from the 26th of September, 2014.

Despite the age of 59, Denzel Washington definitely doesn't act or look particularly bad for his age. Like many actors before him (Liam Neeson, Al Pacino), the star of various achievements by the late Tony Scott, has ignored the idea of age and returned to cinema in the form of an action hero/vigilante, in Antoine Fuqua's third film, "The Equalizer".

Washington portrays Robert, a calm and peaceful man, who by day works in the American equivalent of B&Q, but by night, enters the local 24 hour diner for late night reading, a mug of tea and a friendly chat. After spending many a night with the lonely inhabitants of the diner, he makes the acquaintance of a young girl named Elena (Grace-Moretz), who is unfortunately placed within the employment of a group of Russian gangsters, led by the abusive pimp named Slavi (David Meunier). After being severely beaten, Elena is left scarred and hospitalised, which angers Robert. Despite years of self-imposed retirement from his shady past in the Special Forces, he decides to see justice carried out, by using his very special set of skills...

Well, Fuqua's overblown tale of revenge may not take itself too seriously in relation to its plot, but it seems as though its screenwriter isn’t particularly sure of the tone he was hoping to achieve. Screenwriter Richard Wenk (“The Expendables 2”) has provided us with an old-school approach to the Hollywood revenge flick and despite the film’s desperate plea to become a thoughtful blockbuster, it fails, mainly because it’s aiming far too high. As it happens, this approach isn’t particularly inventive, but it is entertaining. 

Throughout his career, Washington has become widely renowned for his comedic and often dramatic persona that governs many of his performances, notably his characters from “Unstoppable” (Tony Scott’s last film before his death in 2012) and “Inside Man”. But here, it seems as though Washington’s performance is solid, yet the tone of the film itself is cloudy. In particular, there are many instances which pose the question: is this supposed to be comedic, or dramatic? Personally I believe it’s a bit of both, as Washington’s character continues to kill people in the most violent of ways, with the occasional quip that often sent the cinema into fits of laughter. 

Despite being the ultimate killing machine, Washington’s performance is at all times likeable, and constantly achieves respect from the audience, governing the screen with his vintage style and swagger. But it isn’t just Washington who controls the screen, its Grace-Moretz, as she provides a surprising performance that includes striking similarities to Jodie Foster’s portrayal of a prostitute, in “Taxi Driver”. Marton Csokas may not be on acting form, yet he does provide a strange certainty in his ability to portray a diabolical villain, as he delivers in many scenes, various anecdotes to Washington’s character; scenes which are tense filled, yet largely entertaining.

Thankfully, it’s not just blood and guts which are on offer here (there is quite a bit of gratuitous violence); Harry Gregson-Williams’s score is one of the main items on display, as he constantly surprises the audience in his score, as he adapts perfectly well to each scenario, particularly the explosive action sequences. Fuqua’s cinematography is also worth mentioning here, as each and every shot looks exceptionally sleek. 

Verdict:

Overlong, yet full of bloodthirsty thrills and spills, “The Equalizer” (a film which bears no resemblance to the 1980’s show) is an entertaining piece of popcorn-fare, which surprises through its style and a wickedly ludicrous performance from Washington. Friday night fun, sorted. 

6.5 Stars out of 10

Written by Scott Gentry.

Film/TV Rating Key
1-2 stars out of ten = Awful.
3-4 stars out of ten = Average.
5-6 stars out of ten = Good.
7-8 stars out of ten = Excellent.
9-10 stars out of ten = Amazing.

Trailer

Clip