SALT Review

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Between the late nineties and early two thousands, the action/thriller genre hit a major stride with films such as The Rock, The Negotiator, The Recruit, Cellular, Phone Booth and Enemy of The State. While SALT isn’t nearly as good as those films, it definitely captures the essence of what made those films great.

When CIA agent Evelyn Salt is accused of being a double agent, she goes on the run to clear her name, all while trying to stop the assassination of the Russian President.

I want to start with the writing of this film. It comes to us from Kurt Wimmer (who gave us The Recruit from the list above). Now, while Wimmer isn’t a well known name, I am willing to bet you like at least one of his films. Between Law Abiding Citizen, The Thomas Crown Affair, Equilibrium and Street Kings (you heard me), the man knows his way around a well made thriller, and this is no different. SALT’s twists are blatant; this is not unusual for him, there is no denying or hiding that fact. You know the twist fifteen minutes into the first act, but who cares? I sure didn’t.

Then there’s the director. Phillip Noyce is probably best known for his directorial work on the two Jack Ryan films starring Harrison Ford, Clear and Present Danger and Patriot Games. Both were solid 80’s action/thrillers in their own right. So the man knows the genre. And while SALT has elements of Jack Ryan, Mission Impossible, Bourne and James Bond, it’s still fun to watch Evelyn kick ass and take names.

Speaking of Salt, Angelina Jolie is a bad ass. I’m a little sad that she spreads her actioners out so far apart, because between this, Wanted and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, I want to see her in an action film every year. Forget Tom Cruise (who this film was originally created for), forget Matt Damon, forget Daniel Craig, it’s all about Jolie. She is the quintessential female bad-a… Yah know what, screw the female part, she is right up there with Cruise, Damon, Craig, and the rest of the boys. Just a straight up bad-ass, and I couldn’t enjoy it more.

Now, this film does best in the action part of that action/thriller. Every action scene is better than the one that comes before it, all leading up to Salt’s final showdown. Excellent pace by Noyce, excellent agility and grace displayed by Jolie and (assuming they stuck to the script) excellent location choices from Wimmer. The thriller part is sort of there, but sort of isn’t. That’s just something you need to accept going in, but it still falls within the genre… Barely.

This movie is like a well oiled machine. It’s definitely not for that niche crowd. It’s for the main stream crowd, the crowd that isn’t that into Nolan’s latest mind bender or Wright’s latest comedic craft. No this crowd likes it straight and to the point. And that’s what you get with SALT, and you get it well. If you can get over the obvious plot twist, and the not completely closed story (hopefully for a sequel), then you’ll enjoy the latest entry into the action/thriller genre.

8/10