Equalizer 3: Evening the Scales of Justice!

Denzel Washington is my favorite actor, so I see every one of his movies, regardless of their merit.  I liked Equalizer 3, but it is probably the weakest one of the franchise. As the film opens, Robert McCall (Denzel), former Marine and CIA operative, has wiped out a cadre of illegal drug enforcers at a deserted villa in Sicily.  (Robin & I went to Sicily last year and highly recommend it!)  McCall was shot in the back while doing so.  He seriously considers suicide, but instead takes a ferry to the mainland, where he is rescued by a cabinet maker, Gio Bonoci (Eugenio Mastrandrea).  Gio takes him to a small, coastal Italian town called Altamonte, where he is medically treated by Enzo Ariso (Remo Girone).  Enzo removes the bullet and helps him to recover. Unfortunately, the town is being ruled and terrorized by the Camorra (Mafia) who also have a lucrative financial arrangement with Arab terrorists.  McCall contacts the CIA who then sends Officer Emma Collins (Dakota Fanning) to investigate the situation.  At first, she doesn't even know who McCall really is. McCall develops a relationship with some of the town's residents and wants to rid Altamonte of the Camorra, but he needs time to become physically capable of intervening on their behalf.  Eventually, he recovers and the rest of the movie is violent and predictable. The fight scenes are well-choreographed, but there are only a handful.  It is not like the "John Wick" films, with their non-stop action.  The movie focuses on the small town, the lives of the citizens, and McCall's growing emotional involvement with them.  There are also wonderful views of Naples and the Amalfi coast. If you are looking for an action movie with a plot that is emotionally-compelling, you could do a lot worse.  If you enjoyed Equalizer 1 or 2, you will probably like this film as well. There aren't many good films out at the theaters now, so if you like Denzel or action movies, I'd give this one a "shot."