THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
When you seek a happy ending, it’s not always a smooth process to accomplish. You don’t think so? Look at The Equalizer 3.
PLOT
The 2023 three-quel follows the retired DIA agent Robert McCall continue to act as a vigilante when going after gangster Lorenzo Vitale and his henchmen, to achieve money stolen from a cyber heist hidden in the criminal’s winery in Sicily. When leaving, he gets shot by Vitale’s adolescent grandson who retreats with his life. In his attempt to return to the United States, he slips into unconsciousness due to his injuries. Surprisingly, he would be rescued by local carabiniere Gio Bonnuci (Eugenio Mastrandrea) and help him recover in the small town of Alamonte. After local doctor Enzo Arisio (Remo Girone) treats his wounds, he would become acquainted with the locals upon while recovering. In the meantime, he would tip off CIA officer Emma Collins about the winery’s role in an illegal drug trade posing as normal transactions. When Emma and her superior, Frank Conroy (David Denman), check out the winery for themselves, they discover millions of cash and bags of fenethylline to confirm McCall’s suspicion. McCall would also notice Alamonte’s locals are being harassed by Camorras who demand payment from the villagers. And when one doesn’t, they make an example by bombing a fish store. When Gio reports the incident, he gets attacked for it in front of his family. When the Camorra come back again and demand Gio to set up a boat for them, harassing him at a public restaurant . Robert overhears and takes action by beating high ranking member Marco in front of his goons and demand them to take business elsewhere. Marco would try to plan killing him to retaliate for the embarrassment, but would be killed by him once leaving the restaurant. The incident would alert his brother Vincent, head of the Camorra, who tortures Naples’ head of police to demand who’s responsible. Vincent would even try scaring the CIA by planting a bomb in Emma’s car, but she avoids severe harm when Robert alerts her in advance. Vincent would then storm Alamonte to demand his brother’s killer to show himself. Robert does make his presence known while also demanding the town to be left alone. Vincent almost takes advantage of killing him immediately, but the villagers defend him by recording the ordeal which causes him to retreat. He considers plotting an attack the next day, but the plan is foiled when Robert stealthily kills his henchmen and forces him to take a lethal does of his drugs. When checking in on Emma, he shares that he went after Vitale to return a pension fund that belonged to an elderly couple, which he gives her to return to them. Some time after this, she would promoted for taking part in ending Alamonte’s drug trade. The same day, she’d receive a book of contacts and a note from McCall congratulating her for the promotion, knowing her mother would be proud. Although she never knew Robert before he first called her, this would confirm her to be the daughter of his late acquaintance Susan Plummer. The film would conclude with McCall staying in Alamonte and celebrate a football team’s victory with the locals.
THOUGHTS
I honestly did not think we would get a trilogy for Antonie Fuqua's vision of The Equalizer due to cbs producing a whole other series starring Queen Latifah. While that one is entertaining, we're proven once again it's never too late to finish what you started. Fuqua knew this and came around in making a solid finale to an arc we never thought we'd be onboard for. Fuqua is able to make an action film that is compelling for different reasons. The action is minimal to set the path clear that the next bloodshed would be the last, which is exactly what happens in shocking fashion. Does it top what was done before? I don't think so, but it doesn't need to be to get us interested because it's graphic enough to surprise us. I mean the opening cinematography to show off one of McCall's last trails was bone chilling as it reminded us how far he'll go to defend those in need. Seeing all of this brings it full circle to the meaning to how people will end up where they're supposed to be without even knowing it and once they do, they will protect where they are until they can't. This is impressively explored thanks to the strong lead that has had us hooked from the beginning. Denzel Washington gives another impressive performance in his final outing as Robert McCall. The big difference he has here from being noble is that he was at the brink of giving up. He's been putting his body through so much pain and started to think if it was still worth being a good samaritan to people he barely knew. All it took was some healing for him to remember it still is because if you don't share the love and kindness to people getting by like yourself, there will be no solidarity left to maintain society as is. The longer he stayed, the stronger of a connection he had with the town he recovered in. He is a people person more than he knows and he cherishes communities as he's shown from the first time we've seen him. Recovering in Alamonte reminded him he didn't have to fight anymore and he finally found the peace he was looking for. Of course like past action movies, that gets interrupted by those who take for themselves in the most grim and selfish way possible. It gets quick to hate on Marco when actor Andrea Dodero shows him to be an arrogant willing to do anything to display power, but it was really Vincent to be intimidated by since Andrea Scarduzio goes all in in making him the sadist kind of villain since not even he has shame in what he has to do to be at the top of the world. But like past villains those who have abused their power with decisions as bad as controlling hotels & casinos, that said power will be taken when least expected, which is exactly the style Robert went for and succeeded for the last time. Throughout this whole trilogy, Robert presents himself as a guardian angel to those in need and he took it an extra mile by being such to someone who had no idea of their connection. I wasn't surprised with Emma being Susan's daughter because I couldn't think of another reason for Robert to reach out to her specifically. Putting aside that prediction and the fact we got a satisfying Man on Fire reunion, Dakota Fanning really made the best of it when portraying Emma as she carries on the standard positive trait of being a knowledgeable yet assertive individual who takes the right steps in stopping the worst of people. She did get a bit too much action when it came to the bombing, but at least she was able to survive without permanent damage. With Robert's help, she gets the opportunity to live a successful life and career like her mother. And with that being said, I know Robert will enjoy whatever peace he has left. This movie is fine for what it is, but there were a few things that still make me prefer the first film. For example, if that kid really wanted to finish Robert, he should've went for the legs. I know that prevents the whole movie from happening, but I'm just saying he could've aimed lower and closer to do what he felt like he had to. And does it really make sense for Vincent to tell Marco to keep his business quiet when he threw an old man out the window? That was a successful moment in shock value, but the message doesn't go across when you're a hypocrite. I respect Gio for reporting the van that was spotted on camera for the arson incident, but he should've known that was gonna backfire. If Vincent owns the cops, he's gonna get checked. I never want to root for villains ever, but that was a plan bound to fail. Also, what made Marco think Vincent wouldn't respond to his actions if he actually were to pursue Robert? If he really wants to keep it quiet, he should've just gotten permission while he could. And lastly, why didn't Emma just transfer the money to the couple at the end? She doesn't know them the way Robert does, so I don't think she had to go that far. If it was up to me, I would've just wired it and made a personal call because that feels just as effective. Other than that, this remains quite a fine action film. In short, The Equalizer 3 is another entertaining action flick that hits the right marks in being a solid finale. If you enjoyed the first two, I hope you like this as well.
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