Post by Rob W. Case on Mar 21, 2024 15:43:44 GMT -6
Denzel Washington returns as former CIA Black Ops operative Robert McCall in the final chapter to the 2014 blockbuster The Equalizer and its 2018 sequel The Equalizer 2.
McCall descends into the bowels of a winery led by a dangerous gangster named Lorenzo Vitale and his henchmen, to retrieve something that didn’t belong to them. Observing his surroundings, McCall offers Vitale an ultimatum; return the money stolen by them in a cyber-heist, or suffer the consequences. McCall gives him 9 seconds to decide. When Vitale moves to strike, McCall makes mincemeat out of Vitale and his gangsters. As McCall leaves with the money, he warns Vitale’s kid grandson, who is waiting in a truck for his grandfather to stay still and be quiet. Once his back is turned, McCall is shot in the back by the kid. Feeling helpless and hopeless in his situation, McCall tries to take his own life, only to realize that his gun is not firing.
While everything goes black, McCall finds himself in the home of a good Samaritan doctor by the name of Enzo Arisio (Remo Girone). Very inquisitive of the doctor’s efforts to help him, McCall asks Enzo a very poignant question.
McCall makes an anonymous phone call to a CIA officer, a woman by the name of Emma Collins (Dakota Fanning), who is both suspicious and impressed by McCall’s knowledge of the bureau, its procedures, and its insider knowledge, known primarily by other agents. McCall informs Collins about the winery’s role in the illegal drug trade that operates under the guise of a functioning business. When Collins acts in faith on McCall’s information and instincts, her agents find millions of dollars in cash, as well as a storeroom full of fenethylline pills. Collins pursues tracking down McCall and finds his whereabouts. She questions him, and tries to scare him, but knowing he has the upper hand to something greater, she recoils a bit.
Meanwhile, as McCall enjoys living in southern Italy, is trying to get closer to God, and is trying to restrain “the savage beast within”, he decides to retire there. He makes friends with many of the villagers, and is experiencing for the first time in a long time, peace. That is, until the Camorra, an Italian Mob criminal organization, begins terrorizing villagers, committing injustices against those McCall makes friends with, and disrupts his life to the point of disgust. That said, McCall gets involved to right wrongs and settle scores that need settling puts him in the middle of the Camorra’s crosshairs. For McCall, peace may come at the cost of bringing out “the beast within” which may in turn bring safety to the villagers that McCall wants to spend his retirement years in the midst of.
My Take:
The Equalizer 3 is an action based, suspense-filled movie that is filled with thrilling action scenes and scenarios that keep the pace fast. The scenery in this movie is breathtaking, as it is filmed in the Amalfi Coast, as well as Naples, Italy. One element that I liked within the film was this “side plot” regarding the relationship between Robert McCall and Emma Collins. Robert McCall asks a haughtily self-confident Collins if she believes in miracles, and she says no. It’s interesting how a series of random, life threatening acts revolving around her in pursuit of her case, threatens her sense of immortality, and humbles her down to a level where she may re-evaluate matters. This side-plot interweaves into the main story-line, adding another thought-provoking good vs. evil dimension to the film.
Out of 4 stars, I give The Equalizer 3, 3.
The movie is rated R for graphic violence, and runs 1 hour and 49 minutes.
To view a [Red-band] trailer for the film, please click on the “Play” button below.
"The Equalizer 3" is available on 4K-UHD, Blu-Ray, DVD, and is also available on multiple streaming services which can be found HERE.
McCall descends into the bowels of a winery led by a dangerous gangster named Lorenzo Vitale and his henchmen, to retrieve something that didn’t belong to them. Observing his surroundings, McCall offers Vitale an ultimatum; return the money stolen by them in a cyber-heist, or suffer the consequences. McCall gives him 9 seconds to decide. When Vitale moves to strike, McCall makes mincemeat out of Vitale and his gangsters. As McCall leaves with the money, he warns Vitale’s kid grandson, who is waiting in a truck for his grandfather to stay still and be quiet. Once his back is turned, McCall is shot in the back by the kid. Feeling helpless and hopeless in his situation, McCall tries to take his own life, only to realize that his gun is not firing.
While everything goes black, McCall finds himself in the home of a good Samaritan doctor by the name of Enzo Arisio (Remo Girone). Very inquisitive of the doctor’s efforts to help him, McCall asks Enzo a very poignant question.
McCall makes an anonymous phone call to a CIA officer, a woman by the name of Emma Collins (Dakota Fanning), who is both suspicious and impressed by McCall’s knowledge of the bureau, its procedures, and its insider knowledge, known primarily by other agents. McCall informs Collins about the winery’s role in the illegal drug trade that operates under the guise of a functioning business. When Collins acts in faith on McCall’s information and instincts, her agents find millions of dollars in cash, as well as a storeroom full of fenethylline pills. Collins pursues tracking down McCall and finds his whereabouts. She questions him, and tries to scare him, but knowing he has the upper hand to something greater, she recoils a bit.
Meanwhile, as McCall enjoys living in southern Italy, is trying to get closer to God, and is trying to restrain “the savage beast within”, he decides to retire there. He makes friends with many of the villagers, and is experiencing for the first time in a long time, peace. That is, until the Camorra, an Italian Mob criminal organization, begins terrorizing villagers, committing injustices against those McCall makes friends with, and disrupts his life to the point of disgust. That said, McCall gets involved to right wrongs and settle scores that need settling puts him in the middle of the Camorra’s crosshairs. For McCall, peace may come at the cost of bringing out “the beast within” which may in turn bring safety to the villagers that McCall wants to spend his retirement years in the midst of.
My Take:
The Equalizer 3 is an action based, suspense-filled movie that is filled with thrilling action scenes and scenarios that keep the pace fast. The scenery in this movie is breathtaking, as it is filmed in the Amalfi Coast, as well as Naples, Italy. One element that I liked within the film was this “side plot” regarding the relationship between Robert McCall and Emma Collins. Robert McCall asks a haughtily self-confident Collins if she believes in miracles, and she says no. It’s interesting how a series of random, life threatening acts revolving around her in pursuit of her case, threatens her sense of immortality, and humbles her down to a level where she may re-evaluate matters. This side-plot interweaves into the main story-line, adding another thought-provoking good vs. evil dimension to the film.
Out of 4 stars, I give The Equalizer 3, 3.
The movie is rated R for graphic violence, and runs 1 hour and 49 minutes.
To view a [Red-band] trailer for the film, please click on the “Play” button below.
"The Equalizer 3" is available on 4K-UHD, Blu-Ray, DVD, and is also available on multiple streaming services which can be found HERE.