CHENNAI: The fantastic Denzel Washington returns in this third and final part of the franchise, “The Equalizer 3,” as government-assassin-turned-vigilante Robert McCall. The movie also sees director Antoine Fuqua getting together with Washington after “Training Day,” “The Magnificent Seven” and the first two parts of “The Equalizer.” The seamless style, spell-binding action and lead star make this film a hit.
McCall finds a home, and kinship, in a small community in a small town, and steps in to protect its inhabitants when danger begins to stalk them.
As the first minutes of this drama begin to unfold. we see a man walking through a vineyard with bodies all around. They have all been shot, and even as McCall finishes off the wicked in what appears like a fantasy out of the blue, Fuqua does manage to inject a tiny bit of realism. Our man does get hurt and has to depend on a kind-hearted cop (Eugenio Mastrandrea) to take him to a doctor in the town.
His recuperation time gives him an opportunity to make friends with the locals — and these are a motley group. A priest, a man who runs a cafe and even a fish-seller. McCall soon begins to feel at home and forms a warm bond with them. But his trained eye never misses a beat and he senses danger lurking beneath the surface — the mafia, of course. Its nefarious players have a firm hold on the locals. McCall takes the help of a CIA operative, Dakota Fanning, and swings into action.
The script by Richard Wenk is simple and lends itself to an easy understanding of the narrative. Plot revelations are quick to come and help in taking the work forward. The bad guys are bad, and the plot makes it clear that although McCall may be as violent, he is friendly and helpful – qualities that charm the townsfolk.
Washington holds the movie together and it is a joy to watch him take on the mafia, blow by blow. In contrast, Fanning brings out his humorous side. The third star of the show is the scenery – the Italian vistas are glorious.
