My Thoughts While Watching:
So this basically took Man On Fire, updated it for traveling purposes, traded Mexican for Russian, and traded an innocent little girl with an innocent little hooker. Pretty Woman with guns? At this rate, if the women he is trying to protect (in such similar layouts) keep getting older, he can save an innocent Betty White from North Korea.
I expect more from him. This is not Oscar worthy. Hell, it was barely “watch it on that app that streams for free” worthy. I thought I would watch this so I could watch his first ever sequel attempt.
Um, hard pass.
Ugh. In reading up on trivia for this blog I see that this is a trilogy. Really??!
Interview:
IMDB Synopsis: A man believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and has dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when he meets a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by – he has to help her.
Starring:
Lead Actress: Chloë Grace Moretz
Lead Actor: Denzel Washington
Supporting Male: Marton Csokas
Others of note: David Harbour
Director: Antoine Fuqua
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1 Ugh – 2 Meh – 3 I don’t hate it? – 4 That was solid. – 5 Loved It!
Cinematography: 3
Costume Design: 3
Film Editing: 2
Makeup and Hairstyling: 3
Music: 4
Production Design: 3
Sound Editing/Mixing: 4
Writing: 1
I give it a 23 out of 40
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Trailer:
Additional Movie Info:
It received a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 60% Fresh. It received a Rotten Tomato audience rating of 76% liking it. Average Rating: 3.9/5 with a number of User Ratings: 90,748.
Movie Reviews:
Specs: Release date: 26 September 2014 (USA) / Runtime: 136 minutes / Budget: $55M
IMDB Trivia:
- Slavi refers to Robert as “dedushka” when they meet at the restaurant. This is Russian for “grandfather”.
- Based on the classic television series starring Edward Woodward.
- McCall’s former occupation is never fully revealed, but a reference to the “Agency” by Melissa Leo’s character which may mean that McCall worked for the CIA in some capacity, most likely in their Special Activities Division, where he would have developed the skills and tactics he used throughout the film.
- Parts of the film were shot at an abandoned Lowe’s in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
- Actor Denzel Washington’s first franchise/ trilogy movie series.
- When his co-workers asked what he did before he worked at the Home Mart, McCall says he was a ‘Pip’ (as in Gladys Knight & The Pips), and he dances a little for them. When Teddy’s men take the employees hostage, and are getting ready to shoot one of them, the song that McCall plays on the store P.A. system, to get their attention, is ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ by Gladys Knight & The Pips.
- According to director, during the research for the role actress Chloë Grace Moretz met an escort,who initially told her to gain weight. Because in this profession in order to take care of different men, escorts have to have some flesh. Chloë who was minor at the time of filming, changed her diet and gained weight for the role.
- The watch Robert McCall wears is a Suunto Core All Black.
- The closing credits font is the same used in the television show on which the film is based, The Equalizer (1985).
- When The Equalizer (1985) debuted on 9/18/85, it was opposite St. Elsewhere (1982). One of the stars of St. Elsewhere was Denzel Washington.
- At the end of the movie Robert McCall sets down ‘Invisible Man’ written by Ralph Ellison. Not to be confused with ‘The Invisible Man’ by H.G. Wells, it addresses many issues facing African Americans in the early 20th century.
- When McCall is on the bus, the coordinates shown for him are N42.3295° W71.8640°.
- McCall’s Craiglist posting, entitled, “Odds Against You? Need Help?” was the same slogan used in The Equalizer’s classified ad in the 1985 television show.
- Body Count: 20.
Thoughts and Ponderances 