Director: Philip Noyce Screenplay: Kurt Wimmer, Brian Helgeland Cast: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, August Diehl Time: 100min Age Restriction: 16V
Genre:
Thriller/Action
Summary Review:
Salt is Angelina Jolie’s best action movie to date, with a thrilling, twisted storyline that will keep you guessing to the last scene.
Synopsis:
There has been a plethora of espionage-themed action/thriller movies out in recent years, along the lines of the Bourne movies and Salt is another such film. But it is one of the better ones and it seems fresh.
Angelina Jolie plays Evelyn Salt, a skilled and respected CIA agent. One day she is interviewing a Russian defector in the high-security CIA offices when he accuses her of being a Russian KGB agent, who’s been planted to kill the US president.
Her CIA colleagues regard her with suspicion and wish to interrogate her, but Salt is not about to let herself be detained when they have just been informed that there is someone trying to kill the president.
She runs and escapes through a series of breathtaking stunts, which characterise the entire film and the rest of the movie revolves around Salt and who the real spy is.
Salt will keep you guessing right up to the last minute – as soon as you think you’ve figured it all out, a new twist is thrown into the works.
Angelina Jolie did all her own stunts, which is very impressive, and having a female lead in an action-packed thriller like this is a twist in itself. Salt is by far her best action film to date (the Lara Croft movies being lame comic-like films and Wanted being too far-fetched). Admittedly, if it had been a male actor in the lead role, this movie may have become transparently clichéd.
But thanks to its fast-paced, thrilling and intriguing storyline, Salt is gripping and entertaining.
I *loved* this movie. It’s really like the 2010 version of Bourne Identity (without the Moby track at the end).
The “twists” as you call them have been very elegantly done in the movie, it’s like a very delicate dance between what’s the truth and what’s a lie. I’ll definitely watch it again!
Thanks for the comment, Jonathan!
I fully agree with you and I love the way you’ve described the story.
I wanted to see this movie but wasnt sure if it was any good. This review made up my mind. Will be going to see it really soon! Thanks.
Curses. I don’t feel the same way at all! I was banging my head most of the time at the inanity of it all.
Everything leading up to the point where Americas President (who was a large chop) gets to decide whether or not to push a large red button and destroy the world.
Filled with over-hyped stereotypes of secret service defense tactics and other common jargon thats been overused for years (i don’t know how its fresh??), its like a toned down version of mission impossible, or Bourne, for couples and peeps looking for a ludicrous action/thriller that defies logic and sensibility.
And the ending? Good lord. Salt couldn’t even locate a spy sitting alongside her in her cover job, and now shes on a mission to kill all the other spy’s?
Haha, Craig! Your comment had me laughing out loud!
I have heard others say this too and throughout the film I was also thinking, “WHAAAT…?!”
But what I really liked was that when viewing the movie in retrospect and when you can see the big picture, everything actually made sense. There were clear clues at every step and it felt to me that all the questions were answered satisfactorily in the end (or perhaps I was just too dim to pick up the not-so-subtle hints?).
The only thing I remain baffled by was the car chase where she first gets injured and is limping, but then suddenly she’s flying through the air doing amazing stunts. (?!)
Nevertheless, I think the cinema is the perfect place to suspend your disbelief and revel in ludicrousness – if you can’t do it there, then where?
Thank you for your comment!
Daryl
Haha Brilliant! What a perfect reply. Too true… I often forget these are movies.
But I do so love it when they get it right. I was just impressed with critics responses, and thought why the hell not (expecting far too much I guess). And then movies that are truly astounding (Pandorum) don’t even make it on the circuit.
What had me in stitches, and others viewers looking at me in complete horror and confusement, was when they refer to the Russian President by his name (even Americas President calls him Borris, Or Inkavich, Or Orlov – any Russian sounding name will do), yet when speaking to Americas President, everyone refers to him as Mr President. Even the Russian president.
As if America’s president is president of the world. And America is secretly some elite unite capable of sustaining their own country without foreign help.
It was like blatant, “We are Awesome. Subdue, or feel the wrath of our big red button” kinda shit. Classic.
I will never be able to forget what a pussy he was when they were getting him down to the basement under the whitehouse. Did you see him run? Hands flapping, and skipping to some pop beat…
My grans carcase could have performed that scene better
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