With The Equalizer 3 blasting its way into theaters this weekend, I decided to reflect on the director’s career and highlight the best Antoine Fuqua movies. While it’s true that the man’s films can be very hit or miss, he at least brings a unique style to every project that’s hard to discount. Now that his Equalizer trilogy has ended (for now), it’ll be interesting to see where his next venture takes him.
I’ve always thought he could make a fantastic horror film, what with his dark and gritty style. Then again, I’d love to see him return to his Training Day routes with another crime drama. Either way, I’m always eager to see the latest offering from Fuqua, and these five movies are a big reason why.
Shooter (2007)
This slick action pic stars Mark Wahlberg as a sniper who gets tricked into completing a job for some shady government officials and ends up on the run, Fugitive-style. Thrilling set pieces abound, and while the overall results aren’t quite up there with the best, there’s a B-movie quality to Shooter that makes it almost hard not to appreciate.
The supporting cast, consisting of Michael Peña, Danny Glover, Kate Mara, Elias Koteas, and an incredibly nasty Ned Betty, is a blast to watch, which is why it makes our list of the best Antoine Fuqua movies. Don’t expect a classic, but you can do far worse on a Sunday afternoon.
Southpaw (2015)
Jake Gyllenhaal goes for broke in this dramatic yarn about a down-on-his-luck boxer who teams with a former fighter (a terrific Forest Whitaker) to reclaim his former glory. With incredible performances and standout fight sequences, Southpaw rises above the typical sports drama thanks to its reliance on character.
Sure, the plot beats are familiar, but Fuqua keeps the picture moving quickly and finds plenty of magic to go hand-in-hand with the blood and bone-breaking. And thanks to Gyllenhaal’s committed performance, viewers are always swept up in the spectacle, no matter how cliche the picture becomes.
The Equalizer (2014)
Naturally, I had to include The Equalizer on the list. Dark and brutal, this bloody thriller finds Denzel Washington kicking ass and taking names. His former government assassin, Robert McCall, is as cool as they come — he’s a cold-blooded vigilante who cares if that makes sense. Fuqua stages a handful of impressive fight sequences but never loses sight of McCall’s primary objective to rid the world of evildoers.
The shadow-drenched apartments and intense villains only add to the atmosphere, while a Home Alone-styled finale inside a Home Depot packs quite the punch. Like most of Fuqua’s projects, the grim tone can get a bit overbearing — subtlety is not his strong suit — but for those who can stomach the bone-cracking violence, The Equalizer remains one helluva good time. I’d also put The Equalizer 2 on the list, but that’d be redundant. Both are more than worth your time.
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Fuqua’s The Magnificent Seven lacks the heart and soul of the classic 1960s Western and ups the violence to ridiculous levels. However, it’s still a rip-roaring yarn boasting an exceptional cast and a few bonkers set pieces. Starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio, and a snarling Peter Sarsgaard (among others), the remake once again posits a handful of gung-ho cowboys against a group (or, in this case, an army) of bad guys defense of a minor, helpless town.
The action pops, thanks to Fuqua’s stylish direction, but the dedication to character makes the pic work. Everyone in the cast gets their moment to shine, and to Fuqua’s credit, each character leaves a lasting impact regardless of their screen time. Washington and Pratt, in particular, are fantastic, flashing their A-list movie star pedigree.
Training Day (2001)
I’m not gonna lie, Training Day is one of my absolute faves. This crime drama gem pulls no punches in its depiction of Los Angeles’ dark city streets, reveling in the grime and grit of the landscape overrun by corrupt cops and gangsters. On this canvas, Fuqua paints a fascinating drama centered around a rookie’s first day on the job with a no-nonsense veteran officer whose street-wise persona has overrun his morality. There are the usual chases and fight scenes, but Fuqua is wise enough to keep his camera focused on Denzel Washington’s brilliant Academy Award-winning performance.
Like a mad tyrant, Washington exudes rage, anger, and guilt — it’s easily the actor’s best role, which is really saying something. Ethan Hawke, likewise, delivers the goods as the naive rookie still clinging to the law. Here, we have a powerful morality tale where heroes and villains are never clearly defined. We fear Washington as much as we empathize with him. He was a good man once but ultimately lost his soul during his time on the street. It’s tough to find films as riveting as Training Day, which stands at the top of our list of the best Antoine Fuqua movies.
Fuqua, take a bow!
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