The Equalizer 3 (2023)
Dir: Antoine Fuqua
Writers: Richard Wenk; Michael Sloan; Richard Lindheim
Starring: Denzel Washington; Dakota Fanning; Eugenio Mastrandrea
By Paul Bernardo paulieb2003@gmail.com
Let me say this – I had no idea that was Dakota Fanning, and I wish I had known because it would have been great to realize the Man On Fire team was back together again. I just thought she was a cute actress, doing her job in a bit part, and it was a bit part. This part could have been so much bigger for her, but they kept Dakota to a bare minimum here and I don’t know why. She was cute, relaxed, charming – did a good job. Nothing to write home about because she only had 3 or 4 scenes in the entire movie.
This film was focused on Roberto McCall. Now in Sicily, Italy in a very small town. Robert was doing another mission nearby – got shot in the back by a complete fluke, and passed out in this small town. The old and beloved local doctor patches him up and keeps him at his house to heal. Robert came to this town by fate, and the more he pokes around town the more he begins to love it.
Robert makes friends with the locals, stays with the Doctor, helps him out, and gets to know all
the local shop owners where he has his famous cup of tea.
Unknowingly, Robert has stumbled upon his biggest challenge yet. The mafia has plans for this coastal town. They want hotels and casinos put up. In order to do this, some of the shop owners and residents have to leave town and find somewhere else to go. Robert is faced with a choice, as always, and he chooses the people, as always.
He calls Dakota Fanning to tip her off about his first mission, naturally she tracks Robert down in his small town and they kind of, sort of start working together, but not really. Robert finds everything out and tells Dakota to make it all official.
Denzel is fantastic here as always. You can tell he has a love for this character. The local Italian people are very endearing and the bad buys appear to be very bad.
If you like The Equalizer franchise you will love this. It has everything the others had, except this time it’s in Italy.
I think Antoine Fuqua has really reached his peak with this film. Everything is done just a bit better than the other 2 films. The killing scenes are a bit more intense, and a little scarier. The explosions are much better, the intensity gets a chance to build up more. Technically I think this one is the best. I
think Antoine reached a greater height with this third one. Everything seems more enhanced, and more focused. There is no waste in this film, at all. Every scene is riveting and every action is needed. There is no useless 30 min chase scene like normal blockbusters.
This film gets a bright shiny sunny day rating. I would very much recommend this over part 2, which seemed a bit confused. This third installment is sharp, intense, and charming. It is good to see Roberto McCall back in action, still helping who he can.
Thank you for reading. See you next week.
