Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is a C.I.A. operative who has done quite a lot for her country and for this, she has become well-respected. However, when a Russian defector (Daniel Olbryshski) shows up in the agency’s front door and claims that Salt is a Russian sleeper agent who has been hiding in plain sight and until the right moment has come to strike. Salt denies the accusation and is somewhat given the benefit of a doubt by her Boss, Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber) but is detained by counterintelligence agent Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Redbelt). Salt escapes and for fear that her cover may have been compromised, she races to her husband’s side. But there may be more to Evelyn Salt than meets the eye? Is she a patriot or is she truly a spy…or does she have her own agenda? One thing’s for certain, Salt is extremely dangerous…
“Salt” takes inspiration from spy thrillers such as the “Bourne” franchise, and does feel like a female side of Jason Bourne. There is just something so cool and sexy when you see a great-looking woman do jaw-dropping stunts, kinetic fight sequences and exude raw attitude. Jolie is the right woman for the job, she is in familiar ground as the film‘s mysterious super-agent and she feels right at home with the fight sequences as with “Wanted”. The film channels Jolie’s charisma and gives action junkies the action they are looking for. Salt leaps across buildings, jumps on moving vehicles, kicks a whole lot of ass, and causes a lot of explosions and mayhem. “Salt” does some incredible things and it is a film that does look good; for those looking for action, the action is there and Jolie looks real good doing it while sporting a ’Cher-like” hairdo.
I have to give the direction by Philip Noyce (Patriot Games) some credit, he does manage to do some effective foreshadowing, as even I felt unsure as to what Evelyn Salt really is. Salt’s claims of innocence does appear credible enough, but her actions place her in doubt. One minute, she is running from her former allies, the next she appears to be making plans to fulfill a mission and then once again she does something else that makes one doubt her credibility. Noyce doesn’t tip his hand too soon, the viewer may see things become predictable as they go, but it serves to entice; things only become clear near the film’s climax. Too bad it doesn’t last...
The film loses its gas past the halfway point, as the film’s script becomes filled with convenient devices, contrivances, and it seems to break its own rules. Wimmer is also the one responsible for “Law Abiding Citizen” and he once again falls to some issues that makes his movies become dumb near the movie‘s climax. I am not sure, those text messages just seemed a little too convenient and the dialogue became too obligatory for my tastes. Once the film goes into its revelations piece by piece, things fall apart and the movie becomes your stereotypical spy flick that requires a huge suspension of disbelief. Once Noyce takes “Salt” out of the realm of stunts and explosions, the piece by piece details become uninteresting and the twists and turns feel a little cheap.
Much of the film’s characterization comes in the form of flashbacks and despite the pitfalls of the film’s last 40 minutes, Angelina Jolie keeps up her dynamic energy that maintains some momentum. It is to her credit that she manages to appear credible despite the U-turn in its last few minutes. I did see quite a few plot missteps (How can you look like a Russian when one is supposed to be trying to remain incognito?), but Jolie was charismatic enough to make me care a tad less. The film does also make use of some ‘shaky camera work’ which may help or hamper some of the film’s sequences. I did however, have some mixed feelings about the film’s soundtrack; but I thought, it does have a cold war theme to it, so maybe it was intentional that it sounded that way.
“SALT” isn’t going to be a classic. But despite the fact that the plot collapsed in upon itself, I was never bored with the film and while I thought some elements were predictable, it did keep me interested. Some plot devices were admittedly a little too cheap and some twists and turns felt forced, but it did serve up some surprises. I guess you can blame it on me being enthralled with a gorgeous female kicking butt…so there you are. “SALT” is a film that needs a little more spice but it was entertaining…as long as you can look past some of its silliness in its script.Recommended timidly, RENT it First [3+ Out of 5 Stars]
