Dvd
Salt
An action-mystery about Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie), an American CIA officer accused of being a Russian spy.
The CIA come to believe Salt is under orders to kill the President, so she goes on the run to clear her name and prove she's all-American. Using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative, she must elude capture and protect her husband or the world's most powerful forces will erase any trace of her existence.
With a hot, ass-kicking, super spy on the run from officials, Salt is like a female-Bourne - but almost wasn't. The project started life as 'Edwin Salt' with Tom Cruise in talks to take the lead before the gender-switch.
Starring Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Yara Shahidi, Gaius Charles, Zoe Lister Jones
Directed by Phillip Noyce ('To Catch a Fire', 'The Quiet American', 'Clear and Present Danger', 'The Bone Collector'))
Written by Kurt Wimmer, Brian Helgeland
Thriller, Mystery, Action | 1hr 40mins | Rated (M) | Contains Violence & Offensive Language | Origin: USA | Official Site »
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The Talk
18 votes / No comments
Flicks review
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3
Watching Angelina Jolie in a role that was originally written for a man is a coup for viewers who tend to steer clear of testosterone-heavy action flicks. And any film of such high-octane calibre is bound to have the star leaping from between moving vehicles – in Angie's case, the leaping comes laced with 'sexy face syndrome'. That is Jolie's biggest flaw: a self-conscious coquettishness delivered as squinty eyes and pouting which is completely unnecessary – and it has to be said, she runs like a girl.
That aside, as Evelyn Salt, the is-she-isn't-she Russian spy, Jolie is otherwise enigmatic and exciting in a flick that pours on the you've-gotta-be-kidding-me twists and turns. Yes, we're talking Big Stunts here folks, which sees the up-for-it mum of six hanging off tall buildings, spinning off tall buildings and killing clusters of muscle men with a few swift jabs and kicks. But, like Girl, Interrupted, it gives the star a chance to try on multiple personalities, even if they swing so violently they'll leave you feeling the plot is contrived, fickle and indecisive. If it weren't for the constant joyride of surprises though, Salt would be an all-too conventional action flick.
Instead it strikes an appealing tone, somewhere between the broad, comedic stunts of Bond and the smart, espionage thriller sense of the Bourne flicks. It's illogical, yes, and at times, so silly you'll be choking on your popcorn. But that's all part of the fun.
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The people's reviews
14 reviews
Press Reviews
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Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
It's gloriously absurd. This movie has holes in it big enough to drive the whole movie through. The laws of physics seem to be suspended here the same way as in a Road Runner cartoon.
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Christchurch Press (James Croot)
3
Is Evelyn Salt the role Angelina Jolie was Bourne to play?
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Dominion Post (Graeme Tuckett)
2
Salt's story is just a tad too close to The Manchurian Candidate, and any one of its dozens of knockoffs, to ever again be made with a straight face.
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Empire (UK)
3
Enjoyable enough nonsense, even if it barely cracks a smile. It’s not exactly the female Bourne we were hoping for. Still, Noyce marshals the crunches and bangs well, and it zips along at a pace sufficient enough to keep the paranoia alive. Never entirely predictable — a bonus these days — it’s further confirmation of Jolie’s action goddess status.
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Hollywood Reporter
Salt moves ever forward -- pushing, pushing, pushing its heroine to greater feats every minute. It doesn't stop for martinis, either shaken or stirred, or any other detours. The movie is lean and muscular, looking for action even in situations where a little sleight of hand might have done the trick.
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Los Angeles Times
And really, who goes to summer action movies for cast-iron logic anyway? Or for plausible characters, for that matter? You go for brisk stunts expertly executed, for well-directed action that doesn't allow you to catch your breath and for one of the preeminent action stars of our time. Yes, that would be Angelina Jolie.
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New York Times
She is the prime special effect, and a reminder that even in an era of technological overkill, movie stars matter.
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NZ Herald (Russell Baillie)
3
Action star Jolie rescues spy film from fatal attack of improbability, just.
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Rolling Stone (USA)
Primed to keep your pulse racing so your brain will stop thinking, "WTF!" Go with the illogic or you'll miss the fun.
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Total Film (UK)
4
By turns vicious and vulnerable, Jolie is in her element as a new action heroine with icon potential. Keeping you guessing and gasping, it passes the litmus test of any new franchise: come the credit roll, you’ll be wanting more Salt.
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Variety (USA)
As a fierce superspy and mistress of many disguises, Jolie represents the one indisputably kickass element in this brisk, professionally assembled but finally shrug-inducing thriller.
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