Movie Review: "Salt"

Seen on: July 23, 2010

The players: Director: Phillip Noyce, Writer: Kurt Wimmer, Cast: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, August Diehl

Facts of interest: Noyce also helmed "Rabbit-Proof Fence."

The plot: Angelina Jolie plays Salt, a CIA officer on the run after she's accused of being a Russian sleeper spy.

Our thoughts: Phillip Noyce’s new action thriller “Salt” may just be one of the most absurd films I’ve seen in this genre, but to tell you the truth, it’s also one awesome big-screen ride. Starring Angelina Jolie in a role she has absolutely no trouble mastering, this fast-paced flick combines intense action and a bunch of clever twists to create quite the entertaining atmosphere.

Jolie plays Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer whose day turns into a real nightmare when defector walks in and accuses her of being a Russian sleeper spy with a plan to help bring down the United States. With everybody confused about her identity, Salt embarks on a perilous mission to evade the CIA and find out what is really going on…

It only takes a couple of minutes before “Salt” explodes on the screen and throws first-class action at its viewers, and that’s exactly what makes it such a superb blockbuster. The compelling pursuits and physical battles don’t stop until the end credits roll, and you won’t come across one single moment of boredom in this film.

The script by Kurt Wimmer is chaotic and utterly ridiculous, but what I applaud is the fact that he successfully managed to keep Salt’s character interesting enough by fully masking her intentions and have her trigger a large chain of twists, some of which I admit I didn’t see coming. Who she is and what’s really up to drives this story pretty well.

Complete suspension of disbelief is required to enjoy “Salt,” so be warned: if you have trouble with major implausibility in movies, this may not be the right film for you. Other than that, I can’t say anything bad about it. It works for what it is, and it delivers first-class action entertainment for 100 minutes. It won’t leave you much room to breathe.

Noyce is a master when it comes to create an intense atmosphere, and that’s one thing that helps boost the level of suspense in “Salt.” Noyce knows what he’s doing when he’s directing all these cool pursuits, and his style certainly adds to the movie’s arresting tension. Great cinematography, editing and score all add to the experience as well.

Then there’s Angelina Jolie, who’s undoubtedly a great pick for this role. We’ve seen her kick major butt in several of these movies already, and even though Salt may not present any new challenges for her, she plays her with confidence and authenticity. Jolie does very well as an action star, and she’s in full control of this intriguing character.

Freaky quote: "My name is Evelyn Salt." - Angelina Jolie, kicking butt again

The final word: Saying too much about “Salt” would take away from the surprise and spoil the movie, so I’ll let you go experience it for yourself. It’s a film as absurd as it can be, but it’s darn entertaining as well. Anything else? Just go ahead and give it a shot. Noyce and Jolie make a solid team, and it’s a pleasure to watch their collaboration on the screen.

Article by Franck Tabouring