Equally As Bad As Expendables.

Rating: 3/10 (24 September 2015)

The Equalizer (2014): Dir: Antoine Fuqua / Cast: Denzel Washington, Chloe Grace Moretz, Marton Csokas, David Harbour, Haley Bennett: Title references not just the equality of justice verses injustice, it also references the elevation of character. What isn't elevated is a screenplay that rises above story conventions. Denzel Washington plays Robert McCall who works at a hardware store. He also dines out in the evening where he reads. This is where he meets a young prostitute named Teri, played by Chloe Grace Moretz. When he witnesses her being abused by her pimp, he attempts to buy her freedom. When this offer is turned down and mocked, he does the impossible and executes everyone in graphic fashion using whatever is available. This is where the film shows its true nature. Antoine Fuqua directed the underrated Brooklyn's Finest as well as Bait and Training Day. He can direct action but the screenplay is just one simplistic pointless action scene after another until arriving at a finale where a nail gun and other tools are used as methods of death. Washington holds his own as this mysterious good Samaritan who gives warnings to bad guys who pay a dear price if they refuse to heed. Moretz is too brief as the young hooker who ends up in the hospital. Marton Csokas plays the Russian villain cleanup guy whom Washington cleans up the floor with. David Harbour plays a corrupt cop whom Washington also cleans the floor up with. Haley Bennett plays Moretz's hooker friend whom Csokas chokes to death. The violence is excessive to the point where it should be equalized with a blow via sledgehammer. Score: 3 ½ / 10