The , starring Denzel Washington and directed by Antoine Fuqua , is a gritty action-thriller that has been widely praised by fans for its intense action and Denzel's charismatic performance. Based on the 1980s TV show, the film follows Robert McCall, a man with a mysterious past who comes out of retirement to protect a young girl from Russian gangsters. Movie Highlights
A stylish but overlong "popcorn movie" that succeeds primarily due to Denzel Washington's magnetic performance.
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Thematically, The Equalizer explores the concept of the "Guardian." Unlike many action protagonists who seek revenge for personal loss, McCall acts as a shield for those who cannot defend themselves. He represents the "equalizing" force in a lopsided society where the powerful prey on the weak. The film’s famous climax in a hardware store—where McCall uses everyday tools to dismantle a professional hit squad—serves as a metaphor for his character: he is a practical man using the tools at hand to repair a broken society.
McCall befriends a young girl, Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a trafficking victim controlled by the Russian mafia. When her handlers beat her so severely she ends up in the ICU, McCall attempts to buy her freedom. The Confrontation:
Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) is a quiet, orderly man living a low-profile life in Boston while working at a Home Mart hardware store. He spends his sleepless nights reading classics at a local diner, where he befriends Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl trapped under the control of violent Russian mobsters.