If you are looking
for a fun, high-octane action piece of work that keeps you guessing
right to the end, don’t look much further than the film Salt.
As a CIA officer,
Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor and country.
Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a
Russian spy. But is there any truth behind this? To clear her name
and find her husband, Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and
years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt’s
efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives,
as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and
the question remains: “Who is Salt?”
Originally written
about a character named Edwin Salt, to be played by Tom Cruise, the
movie was slightly redesigned for Jolie. Although it puts forth thrilling
scenes and mystery, Jolie’s role seems much like her Mr. and
Mrs. Smith and Wanted characters with a little more determination
and strength over sex appeal.
Salt delivered
a twisty spy action thrill ride that kept the audience on the edge
of their seats the entire time. The movie shy’s away from wordy
conversation and explanations and goes back to the old-school style
of filmmaking without gimmicky special effects.
Although the
plot seems a bit farfetched, director Phillip Noyce decided to do
one of the most interesting and difficult things in the business.
The entire movie keeps the audience asking “Who is Salt?”
Viewers will be torn whether Salt is a wrongfully accused CIA agent
or a deeply-ingrained Russian spy. Although, the guessing game makes
it difficult for one to become fully vested in Salt’s storyline,
the straightforward espionage storytelling makes one eager to find
out the truth.
The movie is
packed with great fights, complex chase scenes and unexpected twists
and turns. Jolie is intense and mysterious, fast-paced and crafty…everything
her character calls for. Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor are also
powerful throughout the film and prove that they are as exhilarating
and as up to the task as Jolie.
This fiercely
entertaining movie feels good in all the right ways, from its Cold
War paranoia to its refreshing lack of technology. Everything in Salt
falls into place and makes for some ideal amusement.