Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of the UK Secret Intelligence Service MI6, testified in court as part of the 2007–2008 Diana, Princess of Wales Inquest in agreement with a statement that the SIS (MI6) could only use force "likely to cause injury" if specially authorized to do so by the UK Foreign Secretary. The legitimacy of deadly force usage from country to country is generally controlled by statute, particular and direct executive orders, the common law, or rules of engagement. It is well known as a literary device used in espionage fiction. The initiation of lethal force is in contrast to the use of lethal force in self-defence or the protection of life. JSTOR ( October 2012) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ī licence to kill is a licence granted by a government or government agency to a particular operative or employee to initiate the use of lethal force in the delivery of their objectives.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.įind sources: "Licence to kill" concept – news Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. In the end, The Equalizer may not be destined for greatness, but it should be a hit movie.This article needs additional citations for verification. Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo and Marton Csokas as a cold-blooded contract killer all add value. The supporting cast is strong, even if the characters are all types. You find yourself rooting for him as his old spy tricks and astonishing physical abilities kick into play while facing down Russian mobsters, Irish-American thugs and a city full of perversion. Even without the character details we never learn about his McCall character, Washington humanizes him with subtle gestures, voice modulation, or a look in the eyes as he interacts with the stock characters played by Moretz and Skourtis. Washington’s fascinating performance in The Equalizer makes it palatable, even attractive. Vigilante justice is compelling, but murky in terms of morality. The Equalizer is wish-fulfillment with the same impact that the Charles Bronson franchise, Death Wish, provided when it launched in 1974. McCall works outside the law, giving himself the licence to kill. He is an avenging angel of death ready to defend the weak and kill villains. But this time, despite utilizing his old spy contacts, he is a freelancer. The movie’s plot - with screenwriter Richard Wenk (The Expendables 2) modernizing the TV series - shows how McCall is re-activated as a rogue agent. Otherwise, he is alone with his tortured memories and his highbrow literature. But he shares nothing of this with his limited circle of friends, including the young prostitute (Chloe Grace Moretz) he mentors in the cafe and the co-worker (Johnny Skourtis) he mentors at the superstore. As we come to learn, without much detail, he is haunted by the deeds of his past at the C.I.A. ![]() He is an insomniac who spends time every night reading in a 24-hour cafe near his working-class apartment. Our anti-hero is now a “humble” worker toiling away in a building supplies superstore. With Fuqua tapping into something dangerous and mysterious in his star’s psyche, Washington plays Robert McCall, a retired government agent who has tried to disappear into a mundane existence in the Boston area (the TV show was set in New York City but the filmmakers shot their version in Massachusetts). The open ending allows for sequels, which would be a first for Washington. ![]() The Equalizer is based on the 1980s TV series that starred Edward Woodward. In the new movie - which will certainly not be their last together - Fuqua directs Washington in a role as a former spy and assassin. The first Fuqua-Washington collaboration was Training Day (2001), which propelled Washington to an historic best actor Oscar for his role as the rogue police detective, Alonzo Harris. They may prove to be heartless, but these films entertain at an intense level. ![]() They do not create great films together but they do make highly effective genre movies. The elaborately staged scenes depicting the many gory killings bridge the modern horror and action genres.īut any way you look at it, The Equalizer showcases the electrifying team of director Antoine Fuqua and star Denzel Washington. This movie is obviously not for the faint-hearted. Turn it slightly and you could also call it a slick crime story that piles up dead bodies with extreme prejudice while operating with a hardass law-and-order agenda. The Equalizer is a classy horror thriller.
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