SALT

Starring:
Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski, August Diehl and Hunt Block

Director:
Phillip Noyce

Running Time:
100 mins

Out to buy on Blu-Ray/DVD 13/12/10

"Let me guess, you're one of those people who thinks everyone is who they say they are?"

Preparing to go home, CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Jolie) is asked to come back and oversee the integration of a Russian defector named Vassily Orlov (Olbrychski). He reveals that there are Russian sleeper agents within the US and one it is going to be activated to kill the visiting Russian President. Not revealing the reason why, CIA supervisors Winter (Schreiber) and Peabody (Ejiofor) are forced to take the information seriously. As the interview ends however, Orlov asks if they want to know who the assassin will be and as she turns to face him the Russian agents says the name of the killer is "Evelyn Salt".

Since the ‘Bourne’ franchise ended on a triumphant high and Matt Damon hung up his killing machine, espionage gloves, studios have been looking for the next big action franchise but can Angelina Jolie step into Jason Bourne’s vacant shoes?

The ‘Bourne’ trilogy redefined the espionage action franchise forever. With even the big boy of the genre, James Bond having to take notice, the Jason Bourne movies brought intelligence and realistic action to a genre that was becoming too reliant on visual effects and gadgets to be taken seriously any more. Since the series ended however, studios have been looking for the next action franchise to move more into plot driven stories than gloried action. Step forward Angelina Jolie and director Phillip Noyce to introduce you to a new female, intelligent action star Evelyn Salt.

No stranger to the political thriller after directing two Jack Ryan movies, ‘Patriot Games’ and ‘Clear and Present Danger’, Australian director Phillip Noyce brings a script by ‘Equilibrium’, ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ and ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ writer Kurt Wimmer to the silver screen and takes us into world of international espionage again and this time we are introduced to the idea of Russian sleeper agents. Even though the Cold War has been over for a very long time, the Russians still can be the villain of choice for Hollywood but this time you will be taken on a ride that you might not have expected.

The trailers and promotional material for ‘Salt’ makes you think the film is going to be a run of the mill, agent trying to prove their innocence as they are accused of been something they are not but you will be in for a pleasant surprise. “Who is Salt?” is the question asked by the filmmakers and this is a question that the audience will be asking themselves all the way through the film. Is she innocent? Is she an assassin? Is she a Russian Agent? Is she part of an elaborate plot to cause renewed tensions between Russia and the US? These are the questions that the script asks of you and for the most part it will keep you guessing until the finale, where, unfortunately, a little bit of predictability will come into the play.

There is no better female action star than Angelina Jolie. If you need a woman who can convincing dispatch or take care of many a hardened soldier, CIA agent or just a hard man, Angelina is the first choice for any casting director. Beautiful but convincingly as hard as nails, Angelina Jolie is the best female action star working in Hollywood today and as Evelyn Salt, she proves that again but the role also gives her the chance to show that she can really act. It is easy to forget that she has won an Oscar and with performances in films like ‘Changeling’, ‘A Mighty Heart’ and her award winning turn in ‘Girl, Interrupted’ she gets the chance to show a little of that skill in ‘Salt’. Her supporting cast helps her along, with fine performances from Liev Schreiber and the always-excellent Chiwetel Ejiofor, as well as a good turn from Daniel Olbrychski as Vassily Orlov, the man who accuses Salt of been a Russian spy.

Action packed but trying far too hard to be the new ‘Bourne’, ‘Salt’ is an entertaining espionage thriller that twists and turns towards its slightly predictable finale. Angelina Jolie is on top form however, proving again that she is the best female action star working in Hollywood today and makes Evelyn Salt a character that you would want to see again.

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