Fuqua's Best Work in Some Time

Rating: 10/10 (28 September 2014)

I have an on-again/off-again relationship with Fuqua films. I've grown increasingly disenchanted with his post-"Training Day" films, and I've been waiting for one to rekindle my interest. Despite really liking the TV spots/trailers for "The Equalizer," I still had my reservations about seeing "The Equalizer." But I'm glad that I did, because it's the Fuqua film I've been waiting for.
SYNOPSIS - Denzel Washington plays Robert McCall, an ex- government/CIA agent (it's never explicitly specified what he did; only implied). Now living an ostensibly honest life in Boston, Massachusetts, he's been able to successfully distance himself from his past life all the while helping and assisting those who he is friends with. After getting to know a young aspiring singer—Alina (played by Moretz)—who hangs out at a diner that McCall frequents, he realizes that she's involved with some shady people. McCall decides to help her next, but doing so not only makes him confront his past... it begins to unravel a thread that he may come to regret ever tugging in the first place.
REVIEW - Directing & Cinematography, 10/10: Surprisingly deft behind the camera, Fuqua shifts his directing style in "The Equalizer," clearly taking inspiration from "300" and "Watchmen" director Zack Snyder at times. The film itself looks fantastic, each shot is crisp and sharp; Mauro Fiore worked with Fuqua on "Training Day" and "Tears of the Sun," but also with Peter Berg on his film "The Kingdom." I may have had gripes with some of Fuqua's past few films, but I've always admired his cinematography, and this notion still holds with "The Equalizer." Fiore does a great job, as familiar Boston settings almost act as complimentary characters in each scene.
Writing, 9/10: I had watched this film a week after seeing Liam Neeson's kinda-sort-similar "A Walk Among the Tombstones" which was a massive disappointment to me solely because the of the writing. I'm glad to say that "The Equalizer" doesn't suffer from this problem. Richard Wenk does a commendable job of introducing us to McCall and revealing his quirks to the audience. Every character in the film is flawed—even McCall—yet Fuqua and Wenk are able to translate them to the screen with both delicacy and intrigue. I have only two gripes with the writing. First, as some other reviews have astutely noted, Moretz's character is unfortunately relegated to a massive supporting role. I found this to be an utter shame, as she portrayed Alina with such a tenderness and vulnerability—I was really disappointed that she had probably less than 10 minutes of screen time. My other writing- related issue stems from what I've dubbed "End of Watch" syndrome. For anyone who has seen David Ayer's film "End of Watch," you'll know that, while a good movie, it's highly far-fetched simply because so much happens to the two protagonists in so little time. This happens a little bit in "The Equalizer," as McCall—who had apparently lived a 'normal' life since his retirement from the CIA up until the beginning of this film— suddenly has a string of nearly-unbelievable action-packed encounters in about a 48-hour span, none of which are actually related to each other! But I can suspend my disbelief; this is a film, after all, and that is the agreement we make as an audience. It was just a little TOO unbelievable, but hardly a deal-breaker. Although if extra- terrestrials some how wound up in the film, then that would be a different story!
Musical Score, 10/10: I'm a bit of an audiophile, and I contend that a fantastic soundtrack is one of the biggest assets any film can boast. Literally from the opening scene of "The Equalizer," I knew that the film was in great hands musically. It wasn't until the credits that I realized why: they were able to nab the great Harry Gregson-Williams (the first two "Narnia" films and "Kingdom of Heaven," among many many others). Oddly enough, he's also scored a number of Denzel films: "Man on Fire," "Deja Vu," "Pelham 123," "Unstoppable." For some films, the music is just 'there'; it's really nothing more than filler. But "The Equalizer" benefits greatly from Gregson-Williams' subtle touches: uplifting at times and dramatic when needed, the score for this film is one of the better ones I can remember for big Hollywood films this year, probably right behind Tyler Bates' work on "Guardians of the Galaxy."
FINAL THOUGHTS - Denzel is great as always, but I also want to give proper credit to Marton Csokas who plays the main antagonist. His chemistry with Denzel Washington is just a pleasure to witness. It's a shame he's always some twisted villain in the majority of his roles!
In the end, "The Equalizer" has something for everyone: attention- grabbing music, great characters, an aesthetically awesome look, fantastic acting, interesting story, and pulse-pounding action. I'd highly recommend this film to anyone, especially anyone who lives in the Boston area (it can be great fun to see landmarks and areas on film that you see every day). And another plus is that it's only in 2D so that you don't have to get suckered into the inflated 3D prices these days! To be honest, you don't really need to read a review about the film to know what it's about. It's Denzel being a badass. We've all seen this before, haven't we? Especially given that Denzel's done "Man on Fire!" But if you STILL have doubts, let me put it this way: I can think of a thousand things that would be a much bigger waste of $10, even if you end up not liking the film.