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“The Equalizer 3”
A film of intense violence that is saved by beautiful Italian scenery and wonderful acting. Denzel Washington returns as Robert McCall, a former government killer now living in Italy. His desire for comfort is destroyed when he is forced to help a community that a dangerous, ruthless drug organization seeks to control.
It is impossible to describe the large number of dead bodies that continually fill the screen. Like Keanu Reeves in the “John Wick” films, director Antoine Fuqua has Washington repeatedly dispose of a large number of enemies without suffering any injuries.
At times, Washington’s McCall lacks any sense of excitement or fear. You can almost hear him thinking, “Alright, alright, I’ll kill a few of these SOBs, but let me finish my tea.”
There are a number of supporting actors who are very good in small roles. Dakota Fanning plays a CIA agent lured from her desk by a call from McCall. Eugenio Mastrandrea holds your attention as a local cop trying to save his wife and son. And Andrea Dodero is unforgettable as Marco, a local gang leader with no conscience.
But as noted earlier, what adds some cinematic majesty to this “kill or be killed” movie is the magnificent Italian landscape. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Sicily, the Amalfi coast and Naples, where this movie is filmed. Frequently, director Fuqua adds some emotional pleasure to “Equalizer 3” by focusing on the beauty and romance of this part of Italy with the use of cinematic shots from overhead.
This makes the film worth seeing on that basis alone.
“The Eternal Memory”
I couldn’t wait to see this film given that it won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary at Sundance, combined with the trailer bringing me to tears. Yet the film drifted along and left me a bit exhausted by the end.
In Spanish with subtitles, it tells the story of Augusto and Paulina, a Chilean married couple who have been in love for 23 years. One of Chile’s most prominent cultural commentators, Augusto had the task of covering Pinochet’s dictatorship and its devastating effects on the country. Paulina, 17 years his junior, is an actress.
Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease eight years earlier, Paulina has become Augusto’s caretaker. As he loses track of their house and her identity as his wife, they try to adapt to the many disruptions brought on by this destructive disease.
The strength of this film flows from Paulina’s tender affection and the couple’s joint sense of humor. Paulina will quickly win your admiration as a loving wife who is dedicated to caring for a husband who is gradually drifting into the mental wilderness.
But as wonderful as this one-hour, 25-minute film is, it unfortunately loses its emotional power as it drifts to its conclusion. For most of the film, Augusto and Paulina are the only two people on the screen. For me it was like going on a magical Disney ride that simply lasts too long. The movie, for all its occasional power, reminded me of the phrase, “Been there, done that.”
However, “Eternal Memory” has received numerous wonderful reviews, so keep that in mind. Despite my final reaction, I fully embraced a final scene where Augusto wraps his arms around a smiling Paulina, saying that he wanted to stay with her forever.
It captured the title of the film.•
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Robert Hammerle practices criminal law in Indianapolis. When he is not in the courtroom or the office, Bob can likely be found at one of his favorite movie theaters preparing to review the latest films. To read more of his reviews, visit www.bigmouthbobs.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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