Salt

2010. Dir: Phillip Noyce. Starring: Anjelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski and August Diehl. ●●●○○



It's been a summer of disapponting action films, with self-importance and low thrills being the order of the day. With that in mind it was great to see a big dumb action movie like Salt which cleverly remembered exactly wha it was there to do in the multiplex, to thrill and entertain.



Evelyn Salt (played with suitable intensity by Anjelina Jolie) is a high ranking CIA operative who is shockingly outed as a former KGB spy in the first act and then must go on the run to a) rescue her kidnapped husband b) prove her innocence and c) prevent a third world war. It's all formulaic stuff with car chases, big explosions and shoot-outs.

The formula works, however, and the pace of the film is so relentless seguing from set piece to set piece that you don't notice the plot holes until well after the credits have rolled.

Director Noyce has previous form with this kind of action movie, having helmed the Jack Ryan movies Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger in the early 90's and it's good to see him back in the realm of this kind of blockbuster and in good form.

Jolie nails the role, managing to find all the shades in Salt's persona as well as proving her personal action credentials (much more than Wanted or Lara Croft ever really managed). Schreiber and Ejiofor both hit their marks in key supporting roles, and I'm very interested in seeing how the relationship between Anjelina and Chiwetel develops over the planned sequel.

Overall I'd highly recommend Salt as a leave your brain at the door action film, fast and furious it's worth the trip to the cinema.