Nicolas Winding Refn has emerged as an auteur of modern ultraviolence on the silver screen. Through his Pusher trilogy, Bronson, Valhalla Rising, and Drive, his made lovingly-rendered bodily harm into an art form. His newest film, a re-teaming with Drive star Ryan Gosling called Only God Forgives (which means the award for “most bone-chillingly awesome title for a movie in a while”) comes out next year, and now, he has his next project set.
I’m unfamiliar with the 80’s TV show The Equalizer, which featured Edward Woodward as an ex-spy who helps those in need. Like everything else from the 80’s, Hollywood has been trying to turn it into a movie. Such efforts were stalled until Denzel Washington signed on to play the lead role, which kicked off a mad scramble amongst hopeful directors. Refn has emerged as the winner, and the movie is better for it. The man knows his solitary figures kicking all manner of ass. Pay attention to this one, 80’s remake or not.
