See it at the Movies

THE EQUALIZER

Joyce and Don Fowler
Posted 10/1/14

* * *

(Denzel takes on the Russian Mafia)

How can you not root for the cool, collected, convincing Denzel Washington as he plays Robert McCall, a retired secret agent who spends all of his …

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See it at the Movies

THE EQUALIZER

Posted

* * *

(Denzel takes on the Russian Mafia)

How can you not root for the cool, collected, convincing Denzel Washington as he plays Robert McCall, a retired secret agent who spends all of his time helping the downtrodden.

The exciting, violent cat and mouse adventure is based on a 1980s TV series of the same name and often plays out like a TV show.

McCall doesn’t have to look for trouble. It finds him, especially during those sleepless nights when he sits for hours in a neighborhood diner reading “Moby Dick” and drinking tea (bringing his own tea bag). He helps a co-worker at Home Mart pass his physical so he can become a security guard, while also befriending a young prostitute and coming to her aid as she is abused by a Russian mob leader.

When he wipes out the entire Russian mob, the leader comes from Russia to seek vengeance. Thus begins a game of cat and mouse that leaves dead bodies all over Boston. The two subplots come together in a wild and crazy shootout at the home improvement mega-store. (We hope they had insurance).

We learn about McCall’s violent past, feel his pain, and cheer him on as he plays “the equalizer” and saves two souls, plus his own. It’s not the greatest movie ever made, but it does keep you involved and rooting for the good guys.

Rated R, with violence and profanity.

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