Before becoming a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt (Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor, and country. She will prove loyal to these when a defector accuses her of being a Russian sleeper spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture, protect her husband, and stay one step ahead of her colleagues at the CIA.
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I vaguely remember watching Salt back around the time it first came out, and being disappointed somehow with the film. But, I just can’t seem to remember why. So, when it popped up on streaming, I figured I’d give it another shot. Would it still disappoint, or would this spy thriller be better the second time around?
Angelina Jolie stars as the title character in Salt, and does a pretty good job of things. While some of the makeup effects later on are lacking, her performance is enigmatic enough to keep the viewer interested, no matter where the story goes. It’s the same type of thing she did in Wanted, and it works just as well here.
The rest of the cast is decent too, with Live Schreiber (in the midst of his renaissance in 2010) and Chiwetel Ejiofor both doing a solid job in their roles too. Daniel Olbrychski is the surprise, as while he doesn’t have a big role, it’s odd he’s given the part rather than another well-known actor. He does a decent job, it just seems a bit jarring. Even the supporting cast turns in decent performances, with Olek Krupa, Andre Braugher (in a much smaller role than his billing suggests) and Corey Stoll the most recognizable.
The storyline is the main problem with Salt. While it’s an intriguing story, the film early on makes the viewer unsure about the loyalties of Jolie’s Evelyn Salt. It’s an odd twist, since while viewers are all for rooting for her character, it’s possible she might be the villain of the picture. With her enigmatic performance – and the film itself – making it hard to tell whose side she’s on. It makes for tough viewing, as the viewer spends most of the time trying to figure out – just like the other characters – whether or not to trust her.
The action, thankfully, is solid in Salt, although surprisingly tame. While there is a lot of shooting and fighting sequences, the PG-13 rating keeps things mostly bloodless. It’s an odd way to go, as Atomic Blonde proved viewers are okay with a female lead getting bloody if the story is good enough. Still, the action sequences deliver, with an exciting chase through –and on – various traffic a highlight. And, while it’s pretty standard (lacking the cinematic quality of some of the sequences in director Phillip Noyce’s Patriot Games), it’s decent enough viewers won’t be complaining.
I have to give it to Salt. They tried to take the normal spy action flick and turn it into something unique. Unfortunately, the unreliable narrator aspect pushes viewers away, turning this otherwise decent action pic into something viewers just can’t support. It’s too bad, because other than that, everything else – from the acting to the action – is pretty darn good.
