The Equalizer 3 (2023) Review!!!

Synopsis – Robert McCall finds himself at home in Southern Italy but he discovers his friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends’ protector by taking on the mafia.

My Take – Undoubtedly, Denzel Washington is among the few movie stars left who can still pull an audience to the theaters. Armed with magnetic charm and superlative charisma the two time Oscar winning actor has gained a reputation for his ability to lift up even the most mid-range materials.

Such has been the case of his sole franchise, moderately entertaining action films loosely based on the 1985 television series of the same name, which sees Denzel Washington play a vigilante who will stop at nothing to deliver violent justice on anyone who have wronged the common folk.

His latest appearance continues what came before but in a different setting, and with the 68 year old actor being impressive as always, and Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Magnificent Seven) once again in the director’s chair, it’s very much business as usual as the third installment rounds out this unexpected trilogy with yet another satisfying action thriller, hitting all the same beats as The Equalizer (2014) and The Equalizer 2 (2018).

Alongside being an absolutely brutal action flick that sees Washington’s Robert McCall takes out members of the Italian mafia with anything and everything, the film also possesses a certain sentimentality as it sees the star reunite with Dakota Fanning almost 20 years following their appearance in Man on Fire (2004).

Yes, it does not quite reach the heights of its predecessors, mainly due to its formulaic story-line, but the savagery of the violence and the gorgeous Italian setting go a long way to make the film entertaining and satisfying.

The story once again follows Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a retired U.S. Marine and DIA operative, who is still continuing to pay his debts for all the bad things he has done by weighing in with his considerable skills on the side of the weak and the oppressed. His latest mission finds him at a secluded winery in Sicily, Italy, where he ends up taking down a warehouse full of criminals who turn out to be working in collaboration with a terrorist group in Europe.

But in the process, he also ends up being shot and almost dies from his wounds. Only to be rescued by a local policeman, Gio (Eugenio Mastrandrea), who takes him to his little town of Altamonte and gets him treated by the town doctor, Enzo (Remo Girone). And as Robert recovers and begins connecting with the people of the town, he finds himself facing Vincent (Andrea Scarduzio) and his brother Marco (Andrea Dodero), members of a local mafia group, who have recently increased their aggressiveness and have been terrorizing the neighborhood.

And as the violence escalates, try as he does, Robert McCall can’t help himself anymore. Along with tipping off Emma Collins (Dakota Fanning), a young CIA analyst, of the major drug importation ring with possible terrorist links, he once again becomes a one-man vigilante force.

All of the strands tie together eventually with a few surprises and plot twists along the way. A tale of terrorism, drug dealing, the Camorra, police corruption and parts of Robert’s history and sense of obligation. This 3rd outing takes us to more exotic locations, gives another nasty slow build until it delves into a fair amount of action.

And director Antoine Fuqua does not spare any expense when it comes to the absolute brutality, while also justifying why they happen. Three films into a morally simplistic franchise, director Fuqua refuses to half-ass his approach, bringing his gritty style and attention to the visual details in every scene.

Shots are thoughtfully constructed, and he offers a welcome sense of place, whether it was the Boston of the original film, the finale set in a coastal Massachusetts town in its sequel, or an Italian village here. Each setting is distinct, rather than existing just as an anonymous, featureless spot soon to become collateral damage in the fight between Robert McCall and whoever has earned his righteous anger this time around.

However, despite its strengths, the film occasionally falters as it leans heavily on gory fight sequences, relegating the story-line to a secondary role. The portrayal of the mafia don and his empire, while ostensibly formidable, often feels like mere props strategically positioned within the plot to showcase the remarkable agility and strength of Robert McCall, somewhat diminishing their perceived power and impact.

Even the town cop subplot that connects to the local mafia feels rushed and unexplored in some ways. By the time things come to a boil in the town, it’s like he and his family have their part in the story wrapped up. It would’ve been more interesting if he somehow was able to help Robert more when taking on the local mafia thugs.

Nevertheless, Denzel Washington‘s flawless ability to command the audience’s attention with minimal gestures is what holds everyone’s attention. Washington’s performance consistently elevates the film and its predecessors closer to their lofty goals of being more than just shoot-’em-ups. He obviously enjoys the role, as it’s the first character he has returned to in his decades-long career.

Dakota Fanning is decent enough as the determined, but wet behind the ears CIA analyst who spars with and learns from McCall. Andrea Dodero and Andrea Dodero are evil enough to be loathsome. In other roles, Eugenio Mastrandrea, Remo Girone, Gaia Scodellaro and Sonia Ammar are good. On the whole, ‘The Equalizer 3’ is a solid final entry anchored Denzel Washington’s ever reliable performance.