#equalizer3

You don't need to twist arms to get fans of Denzel Washington, myself included, excited about "The Equalizer 3." In this third and final installment, Washington reprises his role as Robert McCall, the paternalistic avenger who aids those unable to help themselves. It's been nearly a decade since the two-time Oscar winner first embraced the character of McCall, a former Marine and special-ops agent on a relentless mission to punish the criminal underworld he encounters.While Edward Woodward originally portrayed the character in an 1980s British TV series, and Queen Latifah currently offers her take on CBS, Washington, at 68, still radiates coolness.In the first "Equalizer," McCall went undercover at a Boston Home Depot. In the second, he posed as a Lyft driver, with his most dangerous passengers meeting untimely ends. Part 3 sees him somehow in Italy, taking on Camorra crime families. Don't question it; just go with the flow.Washington appears vulnerable as "The Equalizer 3" begins, recovering at an Italian vineyard after taking a bullet to the back. A local cop, Gio (Eugenio Mastrandrea), discovers McCall slumped in his car, and town doctor Enzo Arisio (Remo Girone) steps in to ensure that the Equalizer will soon be fit and ready to take on the bad guys.But Washington and director Antoine Fuqua, who guided the actor to his second Oscar as the corrupt cop in 2001's "Training Day," lull us into a false sense of tranquility as McCall recuperates on the Amalfi coast, buys a stylish hat, and shares an almost-flirtatious moment with a waitress (Gaia Scodellaro). And when Washington flashes one of his rare smiles, the sun seems to shine brighter.The plot thickens, mostly with cliches, in Richard Wenk's well-worn script. McCall notices mafia goons Marco (Andrea Dodero) and his big brother Vincent (Andrea Scarduzio) bullying the little guys, and just like that, he's pulled back into a life he nearly left behind due to a crisis of conscience.McCall receives assistance from CIA agent Emma Collins, played by Dakota Fanning, who was just 9 years old when she co-starred with Washington in 2004's "Man on Fire." Their scrappy interactions are a highlight, especially when Fuqua replaces repetitive action with genuine twists, allowing the pacing to take a breather.Let's be honest, "The Equalizer 3" would be little more than formulaic action bolstered by a generous helping of R-rated violence if not for Washington's charisma, which oozes from every pore. Why would an actor of Washington's caliber waste time on B-movie material?Perhaps it's because he, the son of a Pentecostal preacher, identifies with the "Equalizer" stories about young people teetering on society's edges. He's openly shared that he once found himself in such a position and received help. Regardless of his motivations, Washington brings humanity and a compelling dramatic presence to the character of McCall that the film struggles to match.Am I suggesting that "The Equalizer 3" would be forgettable without its star attraction? Absolutely.Washington can convey more with a gesture, a tilt of his head, or a spark in his eye than most actors can with pages of dialogue. That's the mark of a true star, and it's not something you'll want to miss."