The Equalizer: An Ordinary Man with Extraordinary Justice
Heroes and vigilantes have always resonated deeply with people. Why? Because wherever there are people, there are bullies, oppression, and wrongdoers who evade the reach of the law. In these situations, the knight-errant, unafraid of power and acting on behalf of justice, becomes the embodiment of righteousness and heroism. The movie “The Equalizer” features a black gentleman who is just such an American vigilante.
A Quiet Beginning
The story unfolds in Boston, one of America’s oldest and most culturally rich cities. The film begins with a calm and steady pace: a middle-aged black man, an employee at a home improvement store, works a regular nine-to-five job, doing odd tasks. After work, he frequents a local diner where he meticulously arranges his cutlery and napkin before opening a copy of “The Old Man and the Sea,” reading while waiting for his meal.
His upright posture, composed demeanor, determined gaze, and methodical dining habits reveal that he is no ordinary man. This tranquil routine sharply contrasts with the violent events that follow.
Encounters at the Diner
At the same diner, a young woman also appears regularly. They engage in occasional small talk, with the young woman asking questions like, “Did the old man catch the fish today? Are you married? There’s a hint of sadness in your eyes…”
The audience learns that the black man reads to fulfill his late wife’s wish of reading 100 books. This portrayal of a devoted and affectionate man instantly endears him to the audience.
Their pleasant conversations are often interrupted by frequent calls to the young woman’s phone. Her attire and demeanor suggest that she comes from a disadvantaged background, is controlled by others, engages in illicit activities, and lives a bleak existence.
As they become better acquainted, the young woman shares her dream of becoming a singer, showing him a demo CD she recorded. Her eyes light up with hope when she speaks of her aspirations, but her expression quickly turns somber at the sight of an incoming call. One evening, as they leave the diner, she is attacked by a group of thugs and dragged into a car. The thugs, mistaking the man for a client, hand him a card for their club. Witnessing the assault, the man is filled with rage, clenching his fists but restraining himself.
After several days, the man notices the young woman’s absence from the diner. Upon inquiring with the owner, he learns that she was severely beaten and hospitalized. Seeing her battered and bruised, and learning of her plight—forced to work against her will and subjected to brutal beatings for any disobedience—ignites a fire within him. His innate sense of justice and chivalry prevents him from turning a blind eye. Enough is enough! A cold glint of vengeance flashes in his eyes, signaling his resolve to take action.
A Deadly Proposition
He takes nine thousand dollars and ventures into the lion’s den, hoping to buy the young woman’s freedom. Instead, he is met with contempt and humiliation. Another close-up shot reveals a steely glint in his eyes as he scans the room, noting potential weapons: a handgun, a fruit knife, a bottle opener, an ashtray, a lighter… In the eyes of a skilled warrior, anything can be a weapon.
He calmly locks the door, pulls out a stopwatch, and starts timing: 16 seconds!
With swift and decisive movements, he dispatches the five thugs with lethal precision, completing the task in just 19 seconds. Afterward, he checks his stopwatch, noting that he exceeded his target by three seconds, indicating his dissatisfaction.
Retribution and Revelation
The man’s single-handed elimination of five men shocks Pushkin, a powerful Russian mob boss. The escort club was a lucrative operation for the Russian mafia in the United States, and its destruction prompts the boss to send his top assassin to seek revenge.
The assassin’s background is equally formidable. He is revealed to be an orphan who, despite being adopted by a loving couple, continued to steal and commit crimes. A natural-born sociopath, he eventually murdered his adoptive parents and returned to the orphanage, becoming a ruthless and cold-blooded professional killer with exceptional marksmanship, intelligence, and malice.
Upon arrival, the assassin’s team uses various surveillance techniques to locate the man’s workplace and residence. Recognizing that anyone who dares to challenge the mafia must be extraordinary, they suspect he has powerful connections. They decide to capture him alive to uncover his true identity.
A battle of wits ensues, with both sides engaging in reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance. The man realizes that his adversaries are part of a vast criminal network. He takes a photo of the assassin and seeks information from his former colleague Susan, a high-ranking CIA official, revealing his own background: he was once a highly skilled CIA operative who grew weary of the dangerous life and faked his death to retire quietly.
The dialogue between the former colleagues reveals much: “I knew he couldn’t have died in a car bomb,” Susan says, implying that she knew he was alive and allowed him to disappear.
“Why are you doing this?” Susan asks.
“Some people are heartless enough to harm innocent strangers, and I can’t stand by and do nothing. Someone has to stand up for them,” he replies.
“What do you get out of it?”
“Peace. Inner peace.”
For someone with a strong sense of justice, seeing the oppressed and the wicked go unpunished is unbearable.
As the man leaves, Susan tells her colleague, “He’s not here for help; he’s here to inform us that he’s taking action.” This statement reflects her deep understanding of his character and capabilities.
After uncovering the assassin’s connections to the criminal organization, the man becomes even more determined to dismantle the gang. He devises a series of plans, capturing corrupt police officers, bombing the mob boss’s oil tankers, and destroying their hideouts one by one.
Showdown
Pushkin, the mob boss in Moscow, becomes desperate and orders the kidnapping of the man’s colleague and friend to force him to comply.
The man risks everything to save his friend, using his exceptional skills to rescue him and eliminate the mobsters within the very store where he works.
To truly defeat the enemy, one must strike at the head. The man travels to Moscow and uses his cunning to ensure that the mob boss meets his end in his own home.
In addition to taking down the mob, the man helps his coworkers by recovering stolen cash and jewelry and seeking justice for a colleague’s mother who was extorted by corrupt cops.
Wherever there is bullying or exploitation, he steps in to quietly seek justice for the victims.
A New Beginning
In the end, the young woman returns to a peaceful life, and the man goes back to Boston, remaining hidden in plain sight. Knowing that injustice exists wherever there are people, he decides to continue fighting for the wronged, calling himself “The Equalizer” and posting information online. Soon, he receives a distress signal, signaling the start of another mission.
Unlike typical hero movies where the protagonist saves loved ones or important figures, this film features a man who saves strangers, the vulnerable members of society.
The film is tightly paced, with every detail and line of dialogue carrying significance.
In “The Equalizer” series, the protagonist reads different books in each installment. In one, he reads Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea,” a story that embodies the American spirit of resilience. The tale of an old man battling sharks at sea mirrors the protagonist’s own struggle: even if he cannot eliminate all the evil in the world or save every innocent person, he will strive to do his best. This unwavering determination drives him to fight for justice and protect the vulnerable.
A classic quote from Mark Twain appears in the film: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” These words capture the essence of the film.
While many people live ordinary lives, driven by fame and fortune, the man lives to uphold justice. In his acts of chivalry, he transcends his own limitations and discovers his purpose. In essence, his heroic deeds elevate his spirit and give his life meaning and depth.
The themes of heroism and chivalry are universal: punishing the wicked and helping the needy. The key is to present these themes in a fresh and compelling way. “The Equalizer” succeeds in capturing the audience’s imagination by blending warmth and violence, the ordinary and the extraordinary.
Denzel Washington’s character is not a cold-blooded killing machine; he is a compassionate, righteous, and capable man who can be trusted. He is an angel to the good and a demon to the wicked.
The film uses aesthetics to depict violence and employs metaphors and dialogue to convey the man’s unwavering commitment to justice and his refusal to be swayed by money, power, or violence.
“To kill one man in ten steps, and to leave no trace. To dust off one’s clothes and disappear, leaving no name behind.” The spirit of chivalry is timeless and universal. As long as there are heroes, justice will prevail, and humanity will have light, warmth, hope, and a future.