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.

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