Angelina Jolie is no stranger to playing the tough girl; from Lara Croft to Mrs. Smith, she has proved time and time again she has what it takes to play with the big boys. As Evelyn Salt, Jolie forever proves that she is more than just a pretty face.
The premise of Salt is not really new. Accused of being a Russian spy, respected CIA agent Evelyn Salt is forced to run from her own agency as questions build as to where her true loyalties lie. The many twists that ensue, although not unexpected, are not entirely predictable. However, despite near desperate attempts to awe its viewers, Salt coasts along on shock value alone, largely neglecting both plot and characters.
As secrets and lies build on top of each other, the driving forces behind many characters become twisted. Some motives remain unexplained even after the credits are rolling. Russian defector Vassily Orlov, who first accuses Salt of being a Russian spy, only ever gives vague and ungrounded reasons for doing so.
Plot holes gape as large as the gaps in the CIA’s security. Director Phillip Noyce ultimately gets the job done, but without the finesse of carefully crafted plot and characters the movie shapes up rather clumsily, stumbling along toward a cop-out ending that leaves room for a sequel which will likely never be made.
That being said, Salt is not to be discounted entirely. Like any good spy movie, Salt asks its audience to suspend their belief in the laws of physics for approximately 90 minutes. Building a bazooka from a table leg in a matter of minutes? No problem. Leaping from an overpass onto the top of a speeding truck – walking, or rather running, away unhurt? Salt makes it look like a simple matter of timing.
The single greatest redeeming factor of the movie is the character of Evelyn Salt herself. Salt’s cool demeanor is captivating as she performs her necessary tasks with almost frightening inhumanity. No one less than Jolie could have taken on this role. Attempted by a man, Salt would have looked like a bad imitation of James Bond or Jason Bourne or any number of similar tired stereotypes. The fact that she is tough and a woman just makes everything that much better.
Salt is a movie no one will ever really be able to agree on. For those in search of a solid, plot-driven film it is a huge disappointment. But for those in search of simple summer entertainment, without requiring too much brain power, it is the perfect mix of borderline laughable implausibility and cool action sequences. Despite all its shortcomings, Salt is a pure guilty pleasure. This is the heart of the movie.
The premise of Salt is not really new. Accused of being a Russian spy, respected CIA agent Evelyn Salt is forced to run from her own agency as questions build as to where her true loyalties lie. The many twists that ensue, although not unexpected, are not entirely predictable. However, despite near desperate attempts to awe its viewers, Salt coasts along on shock value alone, largely neglecting both plot and characters.
As secrets and lies build on top of each other, the driving forces behind many characters become twisted. Some motives remain unexplained even after the credits are rolling. Russian defector Vassily Orlov, who first accuses Salt of being a Russian spy, only ever gives vague and ungrounded reasons for doing so.
Plot holes gape as large as the gaps in the CIA’s security. Director Phillip Noyce ultimately gets the job done, but without the finesse of carefully crafted plot and characters the movie shapes up rather clumsily, stumbling along toward a cop-out ending that leaves room for a sequel which will likely never be made.
That being said, Salt is not to be discounted entirely. Like any good spy movie, Salt asks its audience to suspend their belief in the laws of physics for approximately 90 minutes. Building a bazooka from a table leg in a matter of minutes? No problem. Leaping from an overpass onto the top of a speeding truck – walking, or rather running, away unhurt? Salt makes it look like a simple matter of timing.
The single greatest redeeming factor of the movie is the character of Evelyn Salt herself. Salt’s cool demeanor is captivating as she performs her necessary tasks with almost frightening inhumanity. No one less than Jolie could have taken on this role. Attempted by a man, Salt would have looked like a bad imitation of James Bond or Jason Bourne or any number of similar tired stereotypes. The fact that she is tough and a woman just makes everything that much better.
Salt is a movie no one will ever really be able to agree on. For those in search of a solid, plot-driven film it is a huge disappointment. But for those in search of simple summer entertainment, without requiring too much brain power, it is the perfect mix of borderline laughable implausibility and cool action sequences. Despite all its shortcomings, Salt is a pure guilty pleasure. This is the heart of the movie.
Emily Smoke
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