Year Released: 2o23
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fannin, Eugenio Mastrandrea, Remo Girone, Gaia Scodellaro
(R, 109 min.)
Genre: Action, Mystery and Thriller

“You took something that didn’t belong to you. I’m here to take it back.” –Robert McCall

Yes, the Italian scenery is terrific, and we love an older Denzel as the still lethal Equalizer, but the violence is over the top.

Now living in Southern Italy, the Equalizer soon discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall becomes their protector by taking on the mafia.

In his the first Equalizer film Denzel never used a gun – that is why Different Drummer had so much fun castigating the critic who incorrectly labeled him “Gandhi with a Glock.”

Such persnickety critics as PBS’s David Edelstein are so wrong when they label Denzel Washington “Gandhi with a Glock.” Did this effete scribbler close his eyes during the action and fail to notice that McCall is consistently unarmed and makes do with what is at hand like McGiver on steroids? –Different Drummer

But now Edelstein would be right – not so much about the Gandhi label – and he would have to include other bloody weapon, such as the meat cleaver we find embedded in a skull early on.

This trend to violent action and less character development also has marred other somewhat degenerate sequels such as the Reacher series, Extraction 2, and the new Luther film.

Different Drummer was also disappointed with Dakota Fanning, such a delight in her early work, including Man on Fire (2004), where she also worked with Denzel Washington, and Dreamer (2005).

As Different Drummer said about her in Dreamer,

And all the warnings about never acting beside an animal are wasted on Dakota Fanning, who somehow has captured a role written for a boy, and then gone on to steal the lead from its title character.

But in The Equalizer 3 as the CIA agent who suspects and then aids Denzel’s Robert McCall, she is stoic, leaning towards dour. Almost phoning it in.

The townspeople in the little village of Altamonte, Italy, are the sweeteners here, especially the local doctor (Remo Girone) who removes a potentially deadly bullet in McCall’s back to save him from approaching death.

Their interactions have the subtle character development we thirst for. We get a few gulps of it but remain dehydrated for the most part, though.

Dr. Arisco: Are you a good man or a bad man?

Robert McCall: I don’t know.

Maybe Roberto, as they call him, is a little down and out here, like Sylvester Stallone’s 2008 Rambo, hacking his way through Thailand rounding up poisonous snakes for a living

In this case the poisonous snakes are the Camorra, one of the Italian Mafia families. And after much time recovering, body and soul, Robert starts to round them up, too.

While most audiences liked the film, at least one viewer was disappointed along with Different Drummer, although for different reasons. He wanted more action (and presumably violence). Hear him out, though. His final sentence is perhaps too true.

•••

I am a huge fan of the first part, the second one was decent, but this one was a huge disappointment. Hard to believe the same star and director were involved in this. The main problem is that this third installment is incredibly slow and lacks action, esp. When compared to the first Equalizer movie.

That 80% of the film was in Italian with subtitles did not help.

There are only three very short action scenes in this, one at the beginning, one in the middle and one at the end. Nothing about them is exciting or special. Most of the time you see Denzel sitting at a table drinking tea or walking around a nice Italian city. The villains are totally generic and forgettable. The sub-plot with a young female CIA agent is unnecessary.

What left me thinking was why was everyone in this Italian city so nice towards Denzel´s character, although they did not know him at all? Why did the doctor help him and did not report him? Why did the policeman help him, why did he not search his car or did any background check?

The idea of McCall going against the Italian mafia sounded so cool and promising, but the outcome was disappointing. Maybe Fuqua and Denzel just wanted to have a nice holiday in Italy. -Anonymous

•••

Certainly worth a watch – some critics think it is the best of the Equalizer trilogy. Maybe that is because this film explores McCall’s existential anguish somewhat like Paul Newman did in Cool Hand Luke as well as Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino .

But neither of those two classics bloodied up the screen so much.

You decide…

–Kathy Borich
🥁 🥁 🥁

Trailer

Film-Loving Foodie

The town and its warm people heal an ailing “Roberto,” and we can see why. The fish monger (Angelo Bonucci) and his family are truly good people, and they perhaps tempt Different Drummer to feature an Italian fish dish, such as the Linguini with White Clam Sauce from The Green Book .

But I choose something the dinner the little café owner cooks for him.

She certainly beats the waitress who refuses to bring Roberto his desired tea, insisting that “…only Englishmen and old ladies” drink it, shoving him a cappuccino instead.

Aminal (Gaia Scodellaro) the café owner corrects that and brings a pot of tea to Roberto every time he sits down at her café table. Later on, she offers to cook him a homemade dinner. Pasta. Of course.

I have chosen a favorite dish from the Almafi Caost, where much of the filming occurred.

This Pasta is a bit like the Italian Lemon Butter Chicken featured in that bitter- sweet film, Love Is All You Need.

Buon appetito!

Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

Using rotisserie or leftover chicken makes this easy creamy lemon chicken pasta recipe perfect for busy weeknights! It comes together quickly with no fancy ingredients. –Natasha Bull

· ▢ 8 ounces uncooked pasta

· ▢ 2 tablespoons butter

· ▢ 1/2 tablespoon flour

· ▢ 1 clove garlic minced

· ▢ 1/4 cup chicken broth/veg broth or dry white wine

· ▢ 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice + zest of 1/2 lemon

· ▢ 1 cup heavy/whipping cream

· ▢ 2 cups cooked/rotisserie chicken shredded

· ▢ 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

· ▢ Salt & pepper to taste

· ▢ Garnish: fresh parsley & extra parm optional

Instructions

1. Boil a salted pot of water for the pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions.

2. When the pasta is approx. 10 minutes away from being done, add the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. Once it melts, sprinkle the flour in and cook for about a minute, stirring fairly often.

3. Add in the garlic, followed by the broth (or wine) and lemon juice + zest. Let it bubble for one minute.

4. Whisk in the cream, then stir in the chicken, and cook it for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened up to your liking.

5. Stir in the parmesan cheese and take the skillet off the heat. Season with salt & pepper as needed (I am generous with both).

6. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss until coated (add a tablespoon or so of the pasta water to the sauce prior to draining it, especially if the sauce has become a little too thick). Serve immediately with more parmesan and a bit of chopped parsley if desired.

Salt and Lavender.com