The Equalizer 2

This review may contain spoilers!

Denzel Washington is a masterclass of acting, and watching him come back to this role is a dream for fans of the action genre. I would give The Equalizer 2 an 8/10.

I was nervous about this film initially when I saw the trailers focused on Robert McCall losing someone close to him; it felt generic and a bit obvious for a sequel. Yet this film takes strides to be original with this concept, crafting a second act that holds quite a creative investigation and a tense third act that works well as the culmination of a murky revenge-thriller. The real draw for this film is Robert McCall, a protagonist who immerses himself deeply within the community and goes to great lengths to protect it. The sub-plot around Miles helping McCall remove graffiti, stay in school and paint the apartment walls is a very progressive mentor narrative and lends fascinating insight into the leading role.

The film is shot very well, making use of framing and movement within the shot to create multiple tense moments and capture action exquisitely. The fight choreography used in the film looks great; there has been a big demand in action sequences for gritty and realistic looking action at the moment. Equalizer 2 looks so good because the fights feel fluid; often the assailants have that gritty and rugged fight style to them, while McCall glides through combatants like a butcher carving fine cuts.

Pedro Pascal, who played Dave York, is quite a different antagonist from what we saw in the first feature; Pascal presents a more efficient operative who is a surprising villain given his grounded suburban demeanour. Ashton Sanders, who played Miles Whittaker, goes through an impressive display of character development in this film; Sanders' initially presents a naive role who doesn't really take much ownership of his responsibilities, yet throughout the narrative, he transitions away from a life of crime to a more positive future. Orson Bean, who played Sam Rubenstein, is a very kind man who has great chemistry with Washington; Bean's presentation of his role's determination to reunite with a portrait of his lost sister is one of the more touching sub-plots of the film. Adam Karst, who played Turkish Father, is a great minor antagonist to start the film with; he presents a threatening criminal figure who doesn't fully comprehend the danger he is inviting which leads to an impressive opening scene.

However, the best performance came from leading actor: Denzel Washington, who played Robert McCall. Watching Washington is often like watching a masterclass in acting I find; even in some of his lesser films he really knows how to lend himself to a character. The role of McCall is extremely likeable, he has this open charisma to him that makes him feel like this quiet pillar within his community. Yet there is a point where that role switches to the dangerous operative/assassin that we all come to watch and it's fascinating because this transition isn't like other action heroes. Washington transitions from his amiable character to a man fuelled sometimes by rage, but often by this blank resolve to eradicate a target or a threat. This character is an impressive persona and in another performer's hands might just feel like a generic action movie role, but in Washington's, you can't help but be fascinated.

Equalizer 2 plays out as a great sequel with some very well-crafted characters and sub-plots; however, it often feels like there wasn't enough main narrative to make the film required. The first act is almost entirely composed of sub-plot or introspective character moments, only ever really culminating into the main story by the end of the act. From there audiences have to be prepared for a very slow burn feature, the pacing takes its time and this feature isn't overstuffed with action but rather contemplative revenge. This film also does a great job of building tension and suspense yet in many of the fight sequences (especially the final fight) Robert McCall feels untouchable, so the lead protagonist never seems to face any real danger that actually threatens him. Most disappointing was the lack of a compelling score for the film; Zack Hemsey had provided some terrific music for the first feature and most notably missing from this film was a distinct sound.

Bill Pullman, who played Brian Plummer, just feels like a role that should have been given to an extra or a less experienced actor; Pullman just plays the wallflower for the entire film and you have to wonder what he's even doing there. Melissa Leo, who played Susan Plummer, was dull to watch in the first Equalizer and she's equally as tiring this time around; her character is really just set up to be killed off and the bland nature of the role means you don't really feel much as an audience member.