Salt

Director: Phillip Noyce
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Daniel Olbrychski, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Liev Schreiber
Releasing in cinemas: 19 August 2010
Rated: M

There’s no doubt whatever Hollywood does the chase well. Ever since the Keystone Cops era, crazy stunts with speed-driven thrills while trying to catch bad guys has given us action films which lift the spirits. Salt is a great example. While the plot doesn’t invite close scrutiny, there’s no doubt about the non-stop entertainment value of Angelina Jolie in full Wonder Woman mode, proving she’s more lethal than an army of Arnold Schwarzeneggers.

Directed with competent flair by our own Phillip Noyce - who’s on his mettle here - Salt revives the spirit of previous essays such as Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. Kurt Wimmer’s storyline has more twists than a one-legged tango dancer, especially the last (possibly) unexpected curly one.

Truth is we aren’t in this for the esoteric value of films like The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, but rather for the wild action which keeps your heartbeat high. Those Keystone policemen weren’t big on plot but they sure entertained our great-grandparents. Angelina Jolie returns in this Russian spy yarn to action with the athletic enthusiasm of her formidable female protagonist in Tomb Raider. The Salt role was originally written for a man, but changed when Jolie signed up for the part. No shrinking violet Angelina, it’s reported she did many of the dangerous stunts herself.

The movie starts strongly with a dramatic scene of Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie), a top-ranking CIA agent, being tortured by the North Koreans, Angelina looks very much the worse for wear. We jump forward two years and Salt now appears luscious and happily married to a German spider expert Mike Krause (August Diehl) who collects the little beasties in jars. Paid-up members of the arachnophobia club may close their eyes.

Their domestic bliss is interrupted when Salt is exposed by Soviet defector Orlov (Daniel Olbrychski) as a ‘sleeper spy’ planted in the USA by the Soviets many years before. (Surprisingly topical considering recent events in America). A cell of these ‘sleeper spies’ will rise up to execute a monstrous plan on Day X, including the assassination of the Russian President (Olek Krupa).

Salt is suddenly under suspicion by her own CIA associates and decides to scamper; making herself appear guilty. Salt displays astonishing survival skills, including edging barefoot around a precarious window ledge, and leaping about on top of transports during a nail biting freeway chase. Lithe and lovely Angelina is at her best in these exciting scenes showing her sleek martial arts skills are not dulled. Salt’s close CIA associate Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber), although uncertain of her guilt joins in the pursuit, perhaps hoping to protect her from his more gun-happy colleagues lead by the officious Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

Diabolical enough to worry Khrushchev, the Soviet plan could start a nuclear war. The super-dynamic Salt takes up the offensive with devastating results, so we can’t be sure which side she’s actually on. The stunning action scenes never let up, so you haven’t time to think too seriously about a few ragged holes in the plot canvas. This is a great ride to enjoy for the slick 100 minutes of screen time. Despite the emphasis on thrills, the characters are sufficiently well developed to make the confounding situation plausible - at least in the cinema. The ending suggests a sequel might be in the wings.

To her credit Angelina Jolie, the fine actress of A Mighty Heart and Changeling, brings Salt to life with more depth and conviction than most action heroes on the screen. The supporting cast give strong complementary performances when not being blown-up, shot or punched. The special effects, cinematography, editing, resounding music by James Newton Howard, and clever stunt work are all of a high order.

Salt is a bobby dazzler of a film - move over James Bond there’s a new girl on the block.

John Bale