Jolie Re-Enters Her Element as CIA Operative Evelyn Salt
Evelyn Salt, a distinguished CIA officer, swore an oath to protect, serve and honor her country. When a defector walks in on the day of her wedding anniversary and accuses her of being a Russian spy, her loyalty becomes a stagnant unknown. In an act of impulse, Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture and clear her name. Her efforts to prove her innocence only intensify the doubt surrounding her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity begs the question: Who is Salt?
I went into Phillip Noyce’s film expecting to witness another typical Jolie action flick. I was right. This being said, I can’t really complain too much as Jolie has proven in the past that action really is her element. Much like her work in Wanted and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Jolie rises to the occasion, this time in the form of Salt, a sexy CIA operative who is often confused for a ruthless killing machine. She does the role justice with her performance, showing that when it comes to high-octane action films, acting is still an important ingredient to overall success.
Accompanying Jolie on her quest for the truth is Live Schreiber, who plays Ted Winter, Salt’s colleague and friend. As the movie progresses, the story between Winter and Salt becomes a central focus- one that ultimately plays a vital role in the overall plot. Schreiber is given the opportunity to showcase his fighting abilities, something he proves he can do quite well. But one must remember that alongside Jolie, he is bound to look second-class. While not new to the Hollywood scene, Chiwetel Ejiofor (best know for his work in last summer’s ‘blockbuster’ 2012) serves are our stingy, by-the-book CIA officer Peabody. Though annoying within the context of the story, his work in the film is definitely one worth noting.
Even with the strong performances, the best parts of the movie come in the form of fights. Director Phillip Noyce did a good job by incorporating all the main characters into each action scene. As usual, Jolie preformed her stunts like a pro, adding intensity to the film’s already dramatic tone. Add in some explosions, James Newton Howard's nerve teasing music, and smartly positioned cameras and Salt pushes its heroine forward with great velocity.
One cannot dismiss the screenplay, which cleverly combines real life politics with fun and exciting action. Granted Kurt Wimmer never expected that his film would be released when the US and Russia were involved in an actual spy investigation; one can’t harp on him for the coincidence. This added bonus adds another layer of complexity to the already entertaining premise, and when combined with the unknown aspect of Salt’s real agenda, the audience is kept off balance for much of the feature.
In the end, Salt is an acceptable summer flick featuring one of Hollywood’s most entertaining actresses. It will likely leave a decent taste in your mouth, though I highly doubt you will be begging for more after the initial helping. The action and storyline are the main attractions here; everything else you have likely seen before. It isn’t anything special, but it does provide a way to beat the sweltering summer heat, and during a season of disappointing features, that is a welcome relief. |
