Salt appears to be an attempt to launch a new Bourne-like franchise starring Angelina Jolie as a spy with a mysterious past. But to call this film a Bourne knock-off isn't completely fair. Salt does have a lot going for it, including a strong cast lead by Jolie and Liev Schreiber. If you've seen the trailer, you already know the premise. Jolie's Evelyn Salt is a CIA operative accused of being a Russian double agent tasked with killing the Russian president. But just when you think this is a simple Fugitive-like setup, the film takes some unexpected turns. At times I admit I wasn't quite sure of Salt's true allegiances. But the movie doesn't give you a lot of time to think. This is a frantically paced action movie with plenty of chase sequences, fight scenes, and gun battles. As she's proven over and over, Jolie is a natural action star making even the more preposterous setups feel credible. But she also has the acting chops to give the character an emotional depth and sense of vulnerability. There's a turning point in the film where Salt's humanity comes bubbling to the surface in a deliciously brutal sequence of calm rage. At this point all bets are off. You never quite know what she's going to do next. It's this unpredictability which is the film's greatest strength. Plus, you can't go wrong with the near-perfect pacing. While this may not be the most memorable spy movie you'll ever see, it certainly is entertaining. After all, isn't that why we go to movies in the first place?
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Salt
Salt appears to be an attempt to launch a new Bourne-like franchise starring Angelina Jolie as a spy with a mysterious past. But to call this film a Bourne knock-off isn't completely fair. Salt does have a lot going for it, including a strong cast lead by Jolie and Liev Schreiber. If you've seen the trailer, you already know the premise. Jolie's Evelyn Salt is a CIA operative accused of being a Russian double agent tasked with killing the Russian president. But just when you think this is a simple Fugitive-like setup, the film takes some unexpected turns. At times I admit I wasn't quite sure of Salt's true allegiances. But the movie doesn't give you a lot of time to think. This is a frantically paced action movie with plenty of chase sequences, fight scenes, and gun battles. As she's proven over and over, Jolie is a natural action star making even the more preposterous setups feel credible. But she also has the acting chops to give the character an emotional depth and sense of vulnerability. There's a turning point in the film where Salt's humanity comes bubbling to the surface in a deliciously brutal sequence of calm rage. At this point all bets are off. You never quite know what she's going to do next. It's this unpredictability which is the film's greatest strength. Plus, you can't go wrong with the near-perfect pacing. While this may not be the most memorable spy movie you'll ever see, it certainly is entertaining. After all, isn't that why we go to movies in the first place?
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