Page 44 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 140

44 Issue 140 September 2024 www.sportsenergynews.com

In Reel Time

First Among Equals

By Nikolai Adams
hat looks to be the closing
Wnote of Denzel Washington
and director Antoine Fuqua’s
trilogy (a rare thing for both men, as
these are the only sequels they’ve
ever done), The Equalizer 3 is a
much more contemplative form of
an action movie. . . a character with
a violent past that is trying to work
through it as he enters the final
chapters of his life.

Opening with a lengthy single
take that shows the destruction
that Robert McCall (Denzel
Washington) can cause, it is a
cinematic gem of a piece set in a
baddie’s lair in Sicily. . . a strikingly
stylized moment that leaves our Photo Submitted
lead wounded in body and soul.

Finding his way into the hands of Washington’s facial expressions of his past, he cannot bear to watch inspect the area after getting an
a small town Italian doctor, Enzo slowly calm to mirror the serenity these people that he is coming to anonymous tip from McCall.
Arisio (Remo Girone), the man of the historic place and its love be treated in such a corrupt Leading to a wet and wild finale
saves his life, but it is a wound that relaxing sea waves (the fresh food, and hostile way. (if you look back, all three revolve
will take time to heal. . . forcing free room and board, and open- A movie that only has a few around water-filled action-packed
him to recover on the other side of armed townsfolk probably don’t moments of brazen violence (and evenings), will the Equalizer be
the Atlantic in the Italian coastal hurt either). The striking shots and boy are they bloody), they are worth able to balance the scales of justice
locale of Altamonte. cinematography from Fuqua and the wait for those action fans out one more time?
director of photography Robert there: fusing the effervescent OCD
Unlike the other two entries in The most unique offering of
Richardson help provide the charm of McCall with the thing he
the franchise, Fuqua takes his time viewer with the same peaceful the franchise, The Equalizer 3’s
to unfurl the story. Feeling less vibrations that will be rudely is best at – timely dispatching those European-style pacing might
American and much more European interrupted. who deserve some vigilante justice. be a bit meandering for some
in its style – somewhat reminiscent Eventually leading to the modern day viewers, but for those
of the pacing of George Clooney’s For, as you might have guessed, mafia higher ups getting word who are willing to get caught
2010 Italian set action thriller The not all is right in Altamonte. . . of the courageous troublemaker, up in the slow build of tense
American – this narrative finds there is a criminal organization, Marco’s brother, Vincent (Andrea atmosphere and the ever-cool
McCall slowly falling in love with locally run by Marco Quaranta Scarduzio), gets involved, while Denzel Washington’s charming
the gorgeous vistas and the people (Andrea Dodero), who roughly CIA officer Emma Collins swagger, the payoffs to come are
residing within them. The storyline hassle the villagers for payoffs and (Dakota Fanning – working with well worth the wait. So, enjoy this
is simple, while the dialogue other such things. Though McCall Washington for the first time since trilogy ender and learn if McCall is
is at times scant as we watch is trying to curb the violent ways 2004’s Man on Fire) decides to
still first among equals.