2014 marks 10 years since Denzel Washington embraced the “action hero of a certain age” typecast by way of his portrayal of John Creasy in Tony Scott’s “Man on Fire.” And he’s sticking to the script of sorts with “The Equalizer,” which hits theatres this Friday.
Although the film is based on Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim’s 1980s CBS television series of the same name, “The Equalizer” bears a striking resemblance to “Man on Fire.”
Four seasons of actively pursuing karma is condensed to an inciting incident that has Robert McCall resorting to mercenary tactics for the sake of peace and order in the film adaptation of “The Equalizer,” but the subject matter is as familiar as the storylines are parallel.
Both characters are tortured souls with a particular set of skills – thanks to extensive military experience – that prove handy for vigilante justice.
Each film has Washington’s character relying on the most dangerous elements of his past to protect a young life.
But “The Equalizer” is by far the most enjoyable among the two. One might almost be compelled to forgive Washington for forsaking more substantive roles in lieu of the box office bang of action flicks … well, almost.
A handful of factors come into play allowing “The Equalizer” to trump “Man on Wire” in style, substance and context. The first is choice of coping mechanisms. While Creasy turns to the bottle, McCall chooses extreme self-restraint via a humble home improvement worker’s existence.
Another winning edge could be that the “The Equalizer” once again teams Washington with director Antoine Fuqua. The two last paired for 2001’s “Training Day,” which earned Washington a “Best Actor” Academy Award for his role as a sociopathic narcotics detective Alonzo Harris.
While “The Equalizer” starts especially slow, the action sequences make the labored beginning worth the audience’s time.
And Fuqua stays true to form with respect to the gritty graphic gore he typically brings to the screen. For “The Equalizer,” he opts for blood and guts death scenes and fight sequences.
And through the film, the latest generation of Denzel fans – who know him strictly for his blockbuster action film star status – will most certainly not be disappointed.
What makes the film most enjoyable – and sets the film clearly apart – with respect to Washington revisiting his familiar role as a seasoned action film star is the magnetism and presence of his antagonist in “The Equalizer.”
In the dozen or so action flicks that had Washington’s name above the title, none have captured authentic evil as Marton Csokas as Teddy. Csokas’ Teddy is an emotionally void Russian mafia assassin imported to America to ensure the debt McCall created with his organization is collected.
The ebb and flow as Washington and Csokas share scenes in the spaces between the fight scenes and blazing guns will remind audiences that two legitimate acting talents are facing off. As they draw upon each other, they make the dramatic moments at least as interesting as the action and, in some cases, more so.
As Teddy, Csokas leaves an unforgettable first impression for the masses who don’t know the established stage and character actor by name – will most certainly stake his claim as a resident evil action film bad guy.
Through their exchanges, those who only know him for his latest film incarnation will get a taste of the Denzel Washington Generation X fell in love with thanks to penetrating film performances – something that was noticeably absent from “Man on Fire.”
The Equalizer opens in theatres nationwide on Friday, Sept. 26. The film is rated R with a running time of 128 minutes.
