Despite its state of the art effects, there’s something rather old-fashioned about Salt. Its story involving double agents and plots to assassinate American presidents harks back to an era when the baddies were always Russians. Casting the lead character as a woman is the only thing that makes this unremarkable spy thriller even remotely interesting.
Angelina Jolie is a legitimate action hero and proves it again here in a performance in which, as CIA agent Evelyn Salt, she single-handedly outwits and out guns both the American and Russian governments. Her character is evidently an indestructible superhero, capable of performing death-defying stunts while leaving a trail of destruction and bodies in her wake. It all adds up to a film that has closer affinities to a comic book than reality.
Salt is a seasoned CIA agent, experienced in covert operations, but her credibility becomes undermined when a Russian defector Orlov (Daniel Olbrychski), during the course of interrogation, claims Salt is actually a Russian mole. He suggests she had been planted in the States years ago in preparation for carrying out a mission at a future date. That date is apparently now and her mission is to assassinate the U.S. President. Fearful that the accusations will put both her life and that of her husband (August Diehl) in danger, Salt goes on the run.
Her colleague Ted (Liev Schreiber) insists she’s being set up and begs her to give herself up, but their boss Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is less certain and sets in motion the full might of the CIA to capture her. And so begins the central thrust of the movie, which is essentially a chase with Salt endeavoring to elude the very organization she works for. During the course of the chase, the issue of Salt’s true allegiances comes into question.
Jolie is perfectly suited to the role, possessing the ability to display both the internal and external toughness required of Salt. But like her character, she lacks a warmth and charm that would make Salt, who performs James Bond like heroics, as engaging as that of 007. Indeed, Kurt Wimmer’s script is devoid of any humour and takes itself far too seriously. Especially considering many of the action sequences are laughably absurd.
Director Philip Noyce, who collaborated previously with Jolie on 1999’s The Bone Collector, does a serviceable job without bringing much in the way of originality or flare to the proceedings. He does keep things barreling along although he would have been better served by punctuating the action with elements that would provide a better understanding of Salt herself. There are plenty of plot twists to keep us guessing as to Salt’s true mission and motives, but with her absence of personality and our insight into her character, it ultimately matters little whose side she’s on and what becomes of her.
Kevin Murphy
