Wed 3 Jun 2020
SALT. Columbia Pictures, 2010. Angelina Jolie (Evelyn Salt), Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski, August Diehl. Screenwriter: Kurt Wimmer. Director: Phillip Noyce.
I have a theory that that says that the reason they called this movie Salt was so that they could call the sequel Salt II. But even though this movie cries out for one – a sequel, that is – it never came about. It is a shame, because not only did it do well at the box office, but I found it both faster and flashier than several James Bond movies which I will not mention here.
Originally created with Tom Cruise in mind for the leading role, Angelie Jolie, as a CIA agent accused of secretly working for the Russians, proves that she can do the stunts (not herself, surely, all of them) and take as much physical punishment (on the screen) as any male actor in the world, including Tom Cruise.
If by which you take that to mean that there are plenty of car chases, gunfire, explosions and attempted assassinations to fill anyone’s dance card for the evening, that is exactly what I wish you to take, with eye-opening twists in the plot to give you enough whiplash to keep your chiropractor busy for a week.
It is not until it’s over until you realize how unlikely the whole affair was. And yet, even now that it’s over, I have to tell you that I found this the most enjoyable out-and-out thriller movie I have seen all year.
June 3rd, 2020 at 2:28 pm
As I recall, this was another one that Bill Crider liked a lot. In my opinion, its “unlikeliness” took away a little from it, but it was a lot of fun. Personally, I prefer the Geena Davis/Samuel L. Jackson The Long Kiss Goodnight.
June 3rd, 2020 at 3:28 pm
I started to watch The Long Kiss Goodnight once when we had HBO and/or Cinemax. but looking back I wonder why I quit watching it so soon. I ought to try that one again.
June 3rd, 2020 at 3:34 pm
I hope nobody minds my reprinting Bill Crider’s review here:
Salt
“If you’re looking for all action all the time, this is the movie for you. It’s 100 minutes long, and it never pauses. That being said, it’s also completely, wildly implausible action, so turn off your brain before you go in. You won’t need your brain, anyway. I knew pretty much where this one was going about ten minutes in, and I was right all the way. I guess I’ve read too many books and seen too many movies.
“Not that it matters. I still had a good time, and Angelina Jolie looks great. Not when she’s getting shot and beaten, of course, but all the rest of the time. Even the ending, which contains the biggest plot problem in the film (and that’s saying something), didn’t really bother me. Well, it did, but again, so what? There’s plenty of shooting, so many chase scenes I couldn’t count them, a few explosions, and Jolie making James Bond look like a wimp. Isn’t that what summer movies are all about?”
https://billcrider.blogspot.com/2010/08/salt.html
June 3rd, 2020 at 6:16 pm
I enjoyed the film tremendously, save for a voice that kept whispering “Why isn’t Angelina Jolie” playing Modesty Blaise?”
Not as good as THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT, but still a great spy/action film.
June 3rd, 2020 at 7:41 pm
Modesty Blaise? Yes!!