Movie Review: Salt

Evelyn Salt(Angelina Jolie), a CIA operative, is a captive in a North Korean prison. She is released in exchange of another North Korean held by the US authorities. This exchange is as a result of the pressure exerted on the authorities by her boyfriend Mike Krause(August Diehl), an arachnologist. Salt’s colleague and friend, Ted Winter(Liev Schreiber) oversees the exchange.

Two years from the exchange, Salt and Mike are celebrating the marriage anniversary today. When Salt and Winter are about to leave the office on this day in the evening, they are summoned to interrogate a Russian defector, Orlov(Daniel Olbrychski). Salt reluctantly agrees. During interrogation, Orlov reveals the existence of Russian sleeper agents in the American soil. One such agent is going to kill the visiting Russian president in the American soil. The agent’s name is Evelyn Salt.

On hearing this, Salt leaves the interrogation room angrily. But she is stopped by another CIA official named Peabody(Chiwetel Ejiofor). Winter is dumbstruck at the quick turn of events. Very soon, Salt escapes from the CIA stronghold. With Peabody and Winter tracking her down, Salt embarks on a journey to find her husband and the truth.

Philip Noyce directs this fast paced thriller based on a wafer-thin storyline. The non existence of the plot is easily forgotten by the quickly progressing chase and daring stunts that rely less on CGI. This thriller has two things working for it in addition to the direction – the camera movement and the music. The camera is always moving during the chase sequences. Depending on where the camera is positioned – front or the back, the fugitive is running towards a receding camera or running away from the advancing camera. This technique effectively provides a sense of urgency and makes the audience feel they are part of the chase. The background score James Newton Howard heightens the drama and suspense.

Angelina Jolie has to be agile and energetic as Salt; for which she fits the bill. As Winter, Liev Schreiber is cool and laid back. This is a departure from the usual intense roles played by him. The rest of the cast is okay.

Though predictable, the movie provides enough thrills to keep you engaged. Go for it.

Language: English

Genre: Thriller

Rating: ***

Tags: Movies,Angelina Jolie,Liev Schreiber,Chiwetel Ejiofor,Philip Noyce,James Newton Howard,Thriller