THE EQUALIZER savagely rebooted the 1985-89 TV series that starred Edward Woodward. The 2014 film put Denzel Washington in the avengers seat as former paramilitary operations agent ‘Robert McCall’, whose attempt at calm, private life anonymity is challenged when he sees innocent and defenseless people victimized by assorted criminals and lowlifes. He addresses their needs and does so in a way that resoundingly satisfies the ordinary person’s thirst for some kind of catharsis against the worst who harvest hurt among us.

Polite, ostensibly unassuming Robert McCall works at a home improvement store in Boston. Winding down sleepless nights by reading novels in a diner, McCall’s friendly encounters with patron ‘Teri’ (Chloë Grace Moretz), a clearly troubled teenage prostitute, leads him to confront her vile pimp and his Russian Mafia crew. Using his skills from his previous life, McCall works (as in ‘dispatches’) his way up the cruel food chain to the shark lair. We may not get justice served in real life, but in get-even stories like this we at least get a waft of fictional aroma.

Slick, sleek and satisfying, with plasma-polished direction from action ace Antoine Fuqua, abetted by Harry Gregson-Williams pensive scoring and adrenaline-mainlining action scenes. The story may be implausible but the acting and staging are high caliber. You don’t want to see sex traffickers get what’s coming to them? Mind that corkscrew.

Aging action stars (Wayne, Connery, Bronson, Stallone) don’t retire, they just retool their arsenals. At 59, Washington, already vetted by bruisers like Man On Fire and Out Of Time joined the defense team likes of Liam Neeson (55 when he took Taken) in the score settling sweeps. Denzel’s faultless, and if the eventual casualty count scenario stretches credibility past snapping point, who gives a flying fig? He carries off the urban lone ranging with impassioned dispassion, full frontal physical confidence and the meditative poise of a zen scholar.

The $55,000,000 layout returned a North American gross of $101,500,000, putting it 32nd place for the year, with another $90,800,000 reaped abroad. Sequels (ass-kicking variety) were  locked to load.

Written by Richard Wenk, Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim. With Marton Tsokas, David Harbour, Melissa Leo, Haley Bennett, Bill Pullman, Johnny Scourtis and David Meunier. 132 minutes.

* Diss Denzel? Dare ya.—Mr.Washington occasionally missteps (Safe House, The Magnificent Seven) but flubs are rare and he’s wisely bracketed well-crafted thrillers like this and its sequels with stunning work in superior dramas such as Flight, Fences, Roman J. Israel Esq., American Gangster—way back down the line to Glory.