THE EQUALIZER 3

US, 2023, 109 minutes, Colour.

Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Eugenio Mastandreo, David Denman, Gaia Scodellaro, Remo Girone, Andrea Scarduzio, Andrea Dodero.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua.

Denzel Washington has shown quite some versatility in his range of characters over a career of more than 40 years. In his 50s, while still making serious films (Fences, Macbeth), he set out on the action hero path (many commentators noting the parallel with the career of Liam Neeson who is two years older than Washington). And, with the 2013 action show, Denzel Washington became The Equaliser. The second episode in 2018.

One of the criticisms of this kind of franchise is that it becomes formulaic. Critics often dismiss the formulaic – but audiences are expecting the formula, to see the variations, to test how they work. Which is very much the case here.

However, this film has the great advantage of being set in Italy and offering some spectacular local scenery. The southern Italian town where the action is set (although there are some excursions to Naples and Rome) consists of sunny white buildings perched on an extraordinarily high crag, from the sea to a mountaintop. And, life in this town is what we might expect from Italian films, a genial population, a most sympathetic Dr, a nice parish priest, the police, shopkeepers. But…

We are in southern Italy, visits to Naples, and, as to be expected, the Camorra, smug and arrogant thugs, conscienceless, wanting to turn the picturesque town into a tourist and casino-gambling destination, using intimidating and violent tactics to overcome any opposition.

However, Robert McCall, the equaliser is there. A prologue introduces him, confronting drug dealers in Sicily, overcoming any opposition with technically expert violence, taking their money cache. But, it would seem the film is almost over at the beginning when he is shot in the back, unexpectedly by a young boy, contemplates dying, but gets the ferry and is picked up by the local police, treated by a sympathetic Dr, recovering, finding the town congenial, an obvious place for a happy retirement. But… The Camorra.

There is quite some complication given Robert McCall’s background and his role as a hitman involved in international detection. He chooses a young CIA agent, played by Dakota Fanning (who, as a child, starred with Washington in 2004 in Man of Fire). He gives her information, she getting to work with her collaborators, coming to meet him in the town, following his leads, which, in fact, almost get her killed.

Interestingly, McCall does not go in for big a spectacular shootout’s. Rather, he is a quiet individual, a talent with literally gripping opponents, picking the thugs of one by one, making a dramatic climax for the action.

Which means that this time Robert McCall, with Denzel Washington is intensity but also his genial smile and kindness in the town, make The Equaliser something of a genial psychopath in his behaviour. Is this the end of the franchise? Or will Dir Antoine Fuqua and Washington come up with another episode because this one has proven the most popular at the box office?

1. The popularity of the first two films? Denzel Washington, action hero?
2. The background of Robert McCall, the first two films, personal suffering, active involvement, hitman, the CIA connections, his skill in espionage, action, killing – genial but with the touch of the psychopath?
3. The prologue, Sicily, the drugs issue, the farm, the men, the shootout, Robert being held, turning the tables, the shooting, finding the money, taking it, the scene with the boy in the truck, the boy shooting him, the wound, contemplating suicide, in the car, the ferry, collapsing on the highway, the policeman finding him, the rescue, the doctor healing him, going to the town?
4. The visual beauty of the locations, the town on the steep cliff, old buildings, white buildings, the streets, homes, stores, the church? The musical score?
5. Robert, bonding with the doctor, calling every wound simply a fall? The gradual recovery, the question of whether he was a good man or a bad man? Moving around the town, the cafe, cups of tea, finding the town congenial, limping, the stairs, the priest, gradual recovery?
6. The background of the Camorra, Vincent, the boss, the meetings in Rome, his ambitions, transforming the town, casinos and tourists? His henchmen, the discussions? His brother, wild, brutal with his friends, the bikes? The brother coming to the town, the threat to the shopkeeper, demanding the money, the bashing? Robert observing? The confrontation in the piazza, the priest, the police and the bashing?
7. The brother and his gang returning, in the restaurant, the confrontation with the policeman, taking his daughter, the threats to his wife, the bashing? In the restaurant, the confrontation with Robert, the equalizer and his skills, touching the nerve, ousting the brother? Retreating?
8. The return, the threats, Robert and his dealing with the whole group, the gruesome deaths? Vincent and his response?
9. The religious procession countering the killings?
10. The life of the town, the doctor and his reputation, the policeman, at the shops, the children? An attractive picture of southern Italian life?
11. The contrast with scenes in Naples, Vincent and his home? The scenes in Rome, the terrorist attack on the station? The CIA officers?
12. Robert and his phone call to Emma, giving her the information, her acting on it, the CIA, the Sicilian situation, drugs, terrorism? Working with her associate, Frank Conroy?
13. Emma coming to the town, Robert recognising her voice, the conversations, his picking her for success, giving her the information, her research on him? In Rome, the threats to her, Vincent and his crew despising her, going to her car, Robert’s phone call, the explosion, her being saved, hospital? The issue of the money, Robert visiting her, the return of the money, the beneficiary, Emma and her visit to Boston and handing over the money? Generosity of an equalizer?
14. Vincent and his thugs, arrogant, smug, playing cards, in his mansion? Robert, the infiltration, the action sequences, overcoming everyone, the confrontation with Vincent, the wounds, Vincent fleeing outside the house, in the street, hit by the car?
15. Robert, returning to the town, happy to be there, equalising for them, a happy retirement? Or?