Taking care of business
In his new film The Equalizer, Denzel Washington kicks major butt. Not really a big surprise as that's what he's been doing since forever
No one takes care of business quite like Denzel Washington.
On-screen, he does an exemplary job of sorting out whatever mess that's put in front of him.
You want him to save a train, like in Unstoppable? No problem.
How about saving a plane, as he does in Flight? Sure!
In The Book Of Eli, he saves The Bible, for goodness' sake.
The thing that really makes Washington truly amazing is that he's just as good at taking care of business where it really counts - at the box office.
Almost all his films do well, mostly just because he's in them.
The Equalizer, opening in cinemas here tomorrow, is sure to be no different.
Let's take a closer look at the many ways the mighty Washington gets the job done.
VIGILANTE BUSINESS
THE EQUALIZER (2014)
Criminals, don't you ever learn? You never, ever, ever mistreat a young woman while anywhere in the vicinity of Denzel Washington. You're basically just begging to have unthinkable violence inflicted upon your person.
Washington plays Robert McCall, a genial hardware store employee who likes to offer pep talks to a working girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) at the local diner.
When he sees the girl get smacked around by her pimp, McCall pays the guy a visit, sparking off a one-man war against the Russian mob.
It's a feel-good story.
A feel-good story in which Washington, just for starters, gouges out a guy's eyeball with a shot glass.
BUSINESS BUSINESS
BUDGET: US$50 million (S$62 million)
GROSS: Probably really good
PLANE BUSINESS
FLIGHT (2012)
Washington plays the ultimate alpha male, a pilot who turns a passenger jet UPSIDE DOWN in order to prevent it from crashing. It's one of the great moments in cinema history. Unfortunately he ends up in a lot of trouble because of his alcoholism, but he faces the music for his boozing in an impressively manly fashion.
BUSINESS BUSINESS
BUDGET: US$31 million
GROSS: US$162 million
TRAIN BUSINESS
UNSTOPPABLE (2010)
If you ever wind up on a runaway train that's filled with toxic chemicals, pray that Washington is the engineer. He will not only rescue you and his handsome sidekick (Chris Pine), but a whole city full of innocent peeps. Only Washington has the experience, the wisdom, the guts and the handsomeness to save the day.
BUSINESS BUSINESS
BUDGET: US$95 million
GROSS: US$168 million
APOCALYPSE BUSINESS
BOOK OF ELI (2010)
The apocalypse isn't for sissies, and Washington proves he's got what it takes to not only survive but thrive in our doomed future. He plays a guy on a mission to save the last known Bible, and he's got a couple of very interesting secrets I won't reveal here. Suffice it to say there's something going on behind his sunglasses, and his memorisation skills are off the chain.
BUSINESS BUSINESS
BUDGET: US$80 million
GROSS: US$157 million
GANGSTER BUSINESS
AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
Sometimes Washington uses his powers for evil, like in this flick. He plays a guy who rises up from nothing to be a gangster kingpin. Along the way he's dogged by a pudgy cop played by Russell Crowe. The amazing thing is that even when he's a baddie, Washington is over-the-top charming. Certainly more charming than Crowe!
BUSINESS BUSINESS
BUDGET: US$100 million
GROSS: US$266 million
Giveaway
WIN THE EQUALIZER MOVIE TICKETS
There are 10 pairs of The Equalizer movie tickets to be won, courtesy of Golden Village Pictures.
The M18-rated movie starring Denzel Washington opens here tomorrow.
TO WIN, ANSWER THIS QUESTION:
Name the lead actor in The Equalizer
1. Marton Csokas
2. Denzel Washington
3. Antoine Fuqua
SMS your answer to 146077877 in the following format:
TNPMEQUAL Answer NRIC Name
Each SMS costs $0.21 (with GST). Contest ends on Sunday, 11.59pm.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
