Review: SALT
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Who really is Evelyn Salt? The first rule of thumb, seeing is NOT believing in the world of espionage. Director Phillip Noyce takes the audience to the edge of suspense till the end. Like any spy flick, there’s mind-numbing action, which is mostly gripping. Especially when unfurled on Angelina Jolie. Even before you finish your popcorn, the first half of the film is over. Like Noyce’s earlier movie Saint, Salt also is fast-paced.
Angelina Jolie is Evelyn Salt, the CIA agent whose love interest is arachnologist Mike Krause (August Diehl). The film begins with Jolie’s release after brutal interrogation in North Korea. Back to work and back to life, Evelyn is looking forward to spending the evening with Mike to celebrate their first anniversary. Everything seemed perfect until she interrogates a Russian defector under CIA custody – Vassily Orlov (Daniel Olbrychski). He unfurls a strange story of ‘sleeper agents’ assigned by Russia to infiltrate into the US for gaining gradual information through the years.
To convince the audience, the assassination of John F Kennedy is introduced to the plot. Orlov explains that Lee Harvey Oswald – JFK’s assassin was actually a Russian spy Alek. He says there are many more ‘Aleks’ in US deployed by Russian mastermind, moulded by ideology and manipulated for greater tasks as ‘deep cover’ agents. Salt, he says is actually one among them.
Orlov’s story diverts the attention to Evelyn Salt. Now her real identity is under question. Meanwhile Orlov escapes from custody and Salt realises the impending danger as even her colleagues seem convinced by Orlov’s tale. Her movements are now restricted by Agent Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) but Agent Ted Winter (Leiv Screiber) is apprehensive about Orlov’s story, and doesn’t believe that Salt is a spy. Then begins the dramatic chase and a sequence of thrilling events. Salt’s escape from the high-security building one of the ‘moments’ from the film.
We see a different Evelyn Salt as the story progresses. Is Salt a mole or a pawn? Don’t expect the crackling action of ‘Mr and Mrs Smith or Wanted. The stunts in Salt make Angelina indestructible (she jumps from an overpass onto a moving truck, then leaps on a tanker and jumps on a moving train and brushes herself off and oh – uses a sanitary napkin to plug a wound). This is where the film falters -in its bid to prove that Angie can take on any Arnie clinging to a fighter plane (True Lies and Eraser), it gives up on Angie the flesh-and-blood spy it wants to capture.
Director Noyce plays safe and sticks to a de-glam Angelina unlike his earlier espionage movie Saint starring Val Kilmer and Elizabeth Shue.
Though the film is a major break for Leiv who was sinking into oblivion, the choice of characters aren’t that impressive, especially a disoriented Hunt Block as the US President. August Diehl failed to impress as Mike Krause, Salt’s husband.
If you swear by action movies and love suspense, ‘Salt’ is a thriller worth watching. Jolie riding a Triumph Street Triple R bike was pretty impressive, making any gal feel that riding a bike is incredibly ‘cool’.
Anjie is still red-hot – watch Salt to see her play the action hero.
Read my colleague Maya’s take on Angelina Jolie – the star, the woman here
Also read:
Review: Inception by Suma Nagaraj
shivani jain on July 31, 2010 at 11:24 pm
will surely watch this movie let see how it is
Akhilesh Sharma on July 31, 2010 at 8:16 pm
An Average Movie I would say.
Tweak and Trick
Lion King on July 31, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Salt is the best movie in the yeae, and I like to congratulation to my hearthrob Anjelina joly, right back, I Love her act and bOObs.
MOHD YUNUS NUMANI on July 31, 2010 at 12:12 pm
movie is very good but steel angeline jolie can do better.
jo on July 31, 2010 at 10:34 am
ow can you even compare this awesome movie with that Akshay-Priyan’s Crap..
You know hollywood works because of better scripts and the storyline which grips tightly and makes the viewer totally indulged in the movie.
But here at bollywood I feel sorry because all the directors have run out of scripts. They are now just developing the remakes….. they can’t come up with their original ideas.
jo on July 31, 2010 at 10:34 am
ow can you even compare this awesome movie with that Akshay-Priyan’s Crap..
You know hollywood works because of better scripts and the storyline which grips tightly and makes the viewer totally indulged in the movie.
jo on July 31, 2010 at 10:33 am
How can you even compare this awesome movie with that Akshay-Priyan’s Crap..
You know hollywood works because of better scripts and the storyline which grips tightly and makes the viewer totally indulged in the movie.Angelina Jolie was totally kick-ass in this movie: slightly stretched stunts in the style of Tom Cruise albeit so. I love her attitude; she turned down the role of the Bond girl ‘cos she’d rather play Bond. And why not – in today’s world who says Bond has to be a man?!
AJAY on July 31, 2010 at 10:11 am
i love agnelina she is just mind blowing
vijay on July 31, 2010 at 8:52 am
superb movie
sri hari reddy on July 31, 2010 at 7:12 am
i saw anjelina movies every one.she is very great.her movies are very interesting to see everyone.when we talk about her stunts she did good performance in every movie.i like her attitude
usha on July 31, 2010 at 7:06 am
I gonna see this movie by this week end,as angie is my favorite
Kavita Kaushal on July 26, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Angelina Jolie was totally kick-ass in this movie: slightly stretched stunts in the style of Tom Cruise albeit so. I love her attitude; she turned down the role of the Bond girl ‘cos she’d rather play Bond. And why not – in today’s world who says Bond has to be a man?!
Rohit on July 26, 2010 at 9:28 am
I am gonna watch this movie for sure (:
Rohit on July 26, 2010 at 9:24 am
Thanks For the review (:
Suma Nagaraj on July 25, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Ok, so Angie is not one for tampons.
And Whisper has a brand new endorsement idea.
But I’d have given *anything* to see Tom Cruise pull that stunt.
Fit to Post: Yahoo! India News » Blog Archive FTP Recap 7 – The Week That Was « on July 25, 2010 at 7:49 pm
[...] we have our weekly film reviews as well. Should you watch the Angelina Jolie starrer “Salt” or should you opt for our King of Bollywood Akshay Kumar’s “Khatta [...]
Destiny on July 25, 2010 at 9:34 am
I’m in love with Angelina Jolie her action in movie is too good , am looking forward to see salt part 2 Producer take note.
amruth on July 25, 2010 at 6:48 am
fabolous movie gonna movie on a vry big hit/sensational
ankit tyagi on July 25, 2010 at 3:49 am
Angelina Jolie is my best hollywood actress.
Santosh choudhary on July 25, 2010 at 12:56 am
salt movie is very good, it become a blockbuster in hollywood. Angelina will win best actress Oscar award.
cindy on July 24, 2010 at 10:24 pm
the movie was very good.well written,well acted,and angelina acted very well.one of her finest works.not as good as inception but still,loved it!
Mohd Khalid on July 24, 2010 at 10:09 pm
@ ravi varma
Hey Ravi,
How can you even compare this awesome movie with that Akshay-Priyan’s Crap..
You know hollywood works because of better scripts and the storyline which grips tightly and makes the viewer totally indulged in the movie.
But here at bollywood I feel sorry because all the directors have run out of scripts. They are now just developing the remakes….. they can’t come up with their original ideas.
Akash Chandel on July 24, 2010 at 8:22 pm
fantastic movie…., i realy like this movie . Angelina rocks…
Nari on July 24, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Havent seen the movie
Satya on July 24, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Fantastic movie…totally gripping till the end and then u want to see part 2!!!
G R Suresh on July 24, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Good film of 2010
I like the movie
Go and watch and enjoy…
rajesh kumar on July 24, 2010 at 4:56 pm
i like this movie
manish paliwal on July 24, 2010 at 4:38 pm
good movie. must watch
Jayant Kum on July 24, 2010 at 3:54 pm
she is a gud actress & i hope in this movieee angelina acting again reach no.- 1 position in hollywood,,,,,,,
maninder on July 24, 2010 at 3:32 pm
i like this movie
MILIND on July 24, 2010 at 3:03 pm
YA THIS NICE MOVIE TO WATCH………..
SHE ACTED WELL IN THIS …HER STUNTS BETTER THAN TOM CRUSE AND PICTURIZATION IS ALSO GOOD…… ONE INDIAN PRODUCER IS ALSO INVOLVED IN THIS MOVIE…
paras patel on July 24, 2010 at 2:27 pm
i like to watch angelina in these type of movies
ravi varma on July 24, 2010 at 2:19 pm
nice one
better than khatta meetha
hasibuddin on July 24, 2010 at 2:04 pm
its nice to see everytime jolie. i like her act and features. she is fabulous in SALT.
Sherey on July 24, 2010 at 1:43 pm
This gonna go big hit.
sawangurung on July 24, 2010 at 1:40 pm
she is hot and very good hollywood acteres
Daniel on July 24, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Watching Inception for 2nd or 3rd time could be a better option
manishnarnoliya on July 24, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Angelina Jolie is a good actress in hollywood
. i like it
manish on July 24, 2010 at 1:13 pm
love music like to dance but not having girl freiend
sonu on July 24, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Angelina Jolie is a good actress in hollywood
sonu on July 24, 2010 at 1:11 pm
fantastic movie
gulam nabi on July 24, 2010 at 1:05 pm
i like this movie