The Equalizer

What resonates about this enjoyable story is that the scenario is as old as the Arthurian legends and their notion of ‘might for right’; it’s reassuring to think there’s a good man stronger than the bad ones – a defender of the vulnerable. The hero tells a corrupt police officer “You’re meant to stand for something punk.” Amen!

Denzel Washington is getting a bit old for action roles – grey haired and paunchy – but he’s still one of the coolest people around and makes an ageing warrior who has lost none of his combat skills look good.

And he will need all of them to take on – multiple times – the Russian mafia; initially to avenge their brutal beating of a young prostitute.

Based on the ‘80s television series that starred Edward Woodward, an earlier planned film was meant to have starred Russell Crowe.

Warning: this is extremely violent – sometimes glibly so. (MMu)

***1/2 /5

BY MICHAEL MUIR