The Queen of Action strikes again...

Rating: 8/10 (3 September 2010)

'Salt' is the tale about a CIA operative accused of being a Russian spy. If everything involved in the production of 'Salt' had gone to plan then we'd be talking about a very different, and much less interesting film. Originally written for a male lead - specifically Tom Cruise, the production of 'Salt' came upon the difficult task of replacing Salt after Cruise dropped out. Jolie, who had notoriously said she had wanted to play Bond - not a Bond girl - was offered this role as a sort of replacement. Edwin Salt became Evelyn Salt, and things got interesting...
'Salt' doesn't exactly have the most compelling of plots, despite the many twists and turns the audience meanders on throughout the course of the film. However what it lacks in story it makes up for in raw, imaginative action. Had Cruise taken the role, 'Salt' would have been an unimaginative, unoriginal cheap Bourne imitation. With Jolie at the helm however, the film sizzles with the strong masculinity in order to adopt such a role, as well as the frailty she feels as a woman whose husband is missing. From what I can gather, they production team didn't feel the need to hold back on their lead when it came to the hard physicality of the role, and there are times throughout the film were you found yourself seriously impressed with both the fights scenes and the action. Unlike Jolie's last endeavour in the action genre with 'Wanted', Salt is very much more realistic, with Salt utilising all the things she can in order to over power these men, and out run them.
The other members of the cast were not un-sensational however with Jolie in almost every scene it was hard really for any of the attention to be drawn onto them. Liev Schreiber seemed comfortable in his role as Salt's friend and colleague and his character seemed, for much of the movie to be following the same doubts and unanswered questions the audience did.
While 'Salt' won't be winning any Oscar's any time soon, it does achieve what it sets out to - in being an action packed and twisting thriller. Jolie definitely made a potentially flaky film much improved and while I didn't find this as enthralling as 'Mr and Mrs Smith', her performance in this in both her stunts and her acting were much better than in the lack lustre 'Wanted'. Judging by the ending, and from what I've heard in the press, a sequel is sure to be on its way. And if it's done properly with a script that allows us more of an emotional attachment to Salt then it really could potentially replace Daniel Craig's pathetic excuse of a Bond in the action genre. Jolie truly is at the forefront of this genre and no other actress does action like she does. She's the Sigourney Weaver of the noughties while still maintaining a reputation as an incredible actress. I look forward to more...
Overall, a solid 8/10.