Where Salt gives a new perspective on bitter-sweet victory

Rating: 6/10 (25 January 2014)

In the manner of other action spy dramas (see the Bourne franchise, for example, or the interminable Bond series etc), this outing is simply another vehicle for another (unlikely) action heroine, Evelyn Salt (Jolie), who demonstrates her ability to foil all attempts to keep her locked down, in chains, tied up, handcuffed or imprisoned â€“ so that she can "save the world", as one of the key characters remarks towards the end of this frenetically paced, kick-butt, auto mangling, wall breaking, truck smashing and totally improbable plot. Still, it's exciting with some truly imaginative stunts to help take your breath away.
Accompanying Jolie, we see her concerned boss, Ted Winter (Schreiber), Peabody (Ejiofor) â€“ all CIA agents â€“ Salt's husband, Krause (Diel), and Orlov (Olbrychiski), a Russian spy who sets the ball rolling when he surrenders to the CIA. Naturally, in this sort of caper, nothing is ever as it seems. So, keep the sound up when they're talking to keep up with the clues and plot twists. The most I'll say is that it's different; but it has similar convoluted excesses as, say, The Manchurian Candidate (1962, 2004) and the B and B series.
Jolie is credibly tough, Schreiber is suitably urbane, Ejiofor cannily persistent, Diel naively supportive and the Russians are, wellÂ…stereotypically Russian. In other words, the acting fits the scenes (no pun intended). As you might expect, the editing is superb throughout. The direction by Noyce is precise and allows the story to unfold without too much thinking; just go with it.
But why Salt â€“ why that name? Well, during the Cold War, the USA and USSR actually held a series of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks â€“ aka SALT I. Those talks morphed, later, into SALT II.
I guess Evelyn Salt decided there'd been enough talking already: time for action. So, we might see Salt II down the road where she finishes the job.
Give this six out of ten, mainly for action, photography and editing. Recommended for action fans only.
January 25, 2014