A mixed web woven from hatching conspiracies to police car chases in Washington DC and New York interstate highways to the buzzing sound of helicopters and bombs exploding, Salt drives on the action formula that summer blockbusters often blast on the screens. [break] But with Salt, there is just more to action. There’s the hero of the movie who rests the entire movie on her shoulders: Angelina Jolie. The actress does complete justice to her character as a Soviet spy, the role that otherwise was written for Tom Cruise.
Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is a CIA agent who takes charge of interrogating a Russian defector Orlov (Daniel Olbrychski). The man tells her about their plans, including that of “Day X” that could impact the US-Russia foreign relations. And one key name in the operation the defector mentions is Evelyn Salt. The story and the action now unfold as Salt undertakes the task she was trained for since her childhood. In a series of flashbacks, the movie shows the early days of Salt in the Soviet Union and how the KGB -- national security of the Soviet Union -- brainfeeds her and others with “idioms, idiosyncrasy and ideology.” At a young age, Salt thus has her target clear: to go to the United States, study at Princeton and work for the CIA.
As the first half of the movie revolves around Salt and her mission, the latter half is all about how she executes them. And there are several references that recall the spy story that the US is currently dealing with. But in a series of events, the movie seems to have stretched its political boundaries and even crossed it. The rhetoric that the Russian spies are in the interest of destroying America and its allies is transparent. The political references in Salt seem to be politically incorrect. Take for instance the dialogue of the US President: “If this is designed by the Russian government, this is an act of war and we will respond.”
But where ever the movie is going, it is Jolie who completely takes off the movie with her beauty -- in skirts or pants, blonde or black -- and boldness. From Wanted (2008) to Mr and Mrs Smith (2005) and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003), Jolie has that action-figure punch that would put male action heroes in Hollywood to shame.
And in this case, in a James-Bond like movie, Jolie isn’t the Bond girl but Bond herself.
In an hour-and-a-half, the main character, Salt, and the movie give an action and impactful ride, the impact being less ravishing though. But in the end, you’ll surely figure out the question that’s been around: Who is Salt?
(Screening at Kumari Cinema Hall.)
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