The Equalizer, film review: The plotting makes no sense whatsoever
(15) Dir. Antoine Fuqua; Starring: Denzel Washington, Chloë Grace Moretz, 128 mins
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.This isn’t a patch on Training Day, director Antoine Fuqua’s earlier collaboration with star Denzel Washington, but it’s still an effective thriller in a similar mould to Washington’s films with the late Tony Scott.
Washington is again playing the likeable blue-collar everyman, albeit this time one with a past as a special forces agent. Once you get over the utter absurdity of the idea that a trained assassin is working as an assistant at a Homebase-style DIY store, the film picks up momentum.
McCall (Washington), who spends his evenings reading Hemingway novels, is drawn into a war with Russian gangsters after he befriends a young woman (Chloë Grace Moretz) who they’ve forced into prostitution.
The plotting makes no sense whatsoever, but you can’t help but admire the ingenuity with which Fuqua uses the implements in the DIY store (everything from wire meshing to garden furniture) in the very violent, very stylish final-reel shoot-out.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments