Salt, the propulsive new thriller from Phillip Noyce (Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games), has been dubbed "Bourne with boobs," but that label isn't entirely accurate. In the role of Evelyn Salt, a CIA staffer hunted by her own agency after a Russian defector fingers her in a plot to murder Russia's president, Angelina Jolie keeps her two most potent weapons holstered, hidden under pantsuits and trenchcoats and the various other components of a super-spy wardrobe that proudly emphasizes function over flash.
But flash is one thing Salt never lacks for. Its breathless cat-and-mouse game hits full-throttle almost from the outset, when a former KGB officer named Orlov (Daniel Olbrychski) stumbles into a CIA interrogation room and begins spilling details of a vast conspiracy. Back in the '70s, hardline elements of the Soviet regime launched an ambitious new front in the Cold War, flooding the western world with orphans trained to infiltrate the security complexes of their adopted homelands and wait patiently — decades, if necessary — for the order to initiate a series of assassinations intended to trigger a devastating nuclear clash between the superpowers, from which the treacherous Reds would emerge triumphant.
The Soviet Union may have long ago collapsed (or did it? Hmmm...), but its army of brainwashed killer orphan spies remains in place, and if this crazy Orlov fellow is to be believed, they stand poised to reignite the Cold War. It's a preposterous — even idiotic — scheme, but no more so than any of our government's various harebrained proposals to kill Castro back in the '60s. As such, the CIA treats it with grave seriousness, even the part that that pegs Salt, who just happens to be a Russian-born orphan herself, as a key player in the conspiracy.
Salt bristles at the accusation, but, suspecting a set-up, she opts to flee rather than face interrogation from her bosses Winter (Liev Schreiber) and Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor). A former field agent, she's been confined to a desk job since a clandestine operation in North Korea went south, leaving her with a nasty shiner and a rather unremarkable German boyfriend (now her unremarkable German husband). She's clearly kept up her training during while cubicle-bound, however, and in a blaze of resourceful thinking and devastating Parkour Fu, she fends off a dozen or so agents of questionable competence and takes to the streets, where she sets about to clear her name and unravel the Commie orphan conspiracy before the authorities can catch up with her. That is, if she isn't a part of the conspiracy.
The premise, which aims to resurrect Cold War tensions and graft them onto a modern-day spy thriller, is absurdly clever — and cleverly absurd. But Kurt Wimmer's screenplay isn't satisfied with the merely clever and absurd — it must be mind-blowing. Salt is one of those thrillers that ladles out its backstory slowly and in tiny portions, every once in a while dropping a revelatory bombshell that effectively blows the lid off everything that happened beforehand. No one is who they seem, and every action, every gesture, no matter how seemingly trivial, is imbued with some kind of grand significance. The effect of piling on one insane twist after another has the effect of gradually diluting the narrative. When anything is possible, nothing really matters.
But spy thrillers, by definition, trade in the preposterous, and the principal function of the summer blockbuster is to entertain. In that regard, Salt more than fulfills its charge. Noyce wisely keeps the story moving at pace that allows little time for asking uncomfortable questions or poking holes in the film's frail plot. And he has an able partner in the infinitely versatile Jolie, who, having already exhibited formidable action-hero chops in Wanted and the Tomb Raider films, proves remarkably adept at the spy game as well.
It's well-known that Jolie wasn't the first choice to star in Salt, joining the project only after Tom Cruise dropped out, citing the story's growing similarities to the Mission: Impossible films. But she's more than just a capable replacement; she's a welcome upgrade over Cruise, not least because she's over a decade younger (and a few inches taller), than her predecessor. Should Brad Bird require a pinch-hitter for Ethan Hunt, he knows where to look.
Hollywood.com rated this film 3 stars.
Network Reviews
Oh Yeah 
Posted by: SUZANBRIANA | 9/5/2010 10:34:57 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
This movie rockss!!!! A definite go see...Jolie kicked butt!!!!
Action filled... 
Posted by: onesanny | 8/29/2010 1:52:06 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
however, the movie left much to desire at the end. To me it seems like the movie (paused) at the end and someone forgot to hit the play button. This is how I would describe the incompleteness felt when the credits began to roll. I would not be surprised it they were to make a Salt II.
Action filled... 
Posted by: onesanny | 8/29/2010 1:23:41 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
however, the movie left much to desire at the end. To me it seems like the movie (paused) at the end and someone forgot to hit the play button. This is how I would describe the incompleteness felt when the credits began to roll. I would not be surprised it they were to make a Salt II.
great movie 
Posted by: acohen91 | 7/31/2010 10:03:36 AM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
great movie. i see salt 2 in the future. must see
Good for a shoot 'em up spy movie 
Posted by: YOSEMITELVR | 7/26/2010 2:24:10 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
If you go in expecting it to be a shoot 'em spy movie, you'll enjoy it. This isn't a life altering flick based in reality. I had a few questions at the end but perhaps they'll answer them in the sequell which they blatantly let us know was coming. Just enjoy and accept it for what is it.
Salt (possible spoiler) 
Posted by: u12armresl | 7/26/2010 8:46:30 AM
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
I loved this movie and as the press indicated there will be a Salt 2 within 3 years.
However, I do think they need to be more realistic in the fight scenes as we all know a well trained agent could take out a few guys, but she took out everyone and I would like to see that adjusted in the next movie so that it was a bit more believable.
Movie was great though.
Oh one other thing. At the end when they said once this door closes even my own men can't get in, funny how they had that door open in only a few minutes with a welder, my guess is that if the president gets to that point, nothing gets in there as it was made to protect from nuclear war wasn't it?
Action from begining to ending 
Posted by: VINAHINDS | 7/26/2010 8:04:01 AM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
My friends and I saw SALT last night, and I must say that we were all extremely excited about the movie, especially I am a huge fan of Angelina.
There is no other female actress in Hollywood that could bring such excitement and action.
She is the next Female action hero. Move over, boys, there is a new chick in town. Kickass, action from the begining to the ending. There were no boring moments, everything flowed. I am anxiously awaiting part 2 of this action packed, reviting thiriller. Way to go Angelina.
WOW!!! 
Posted by: Dtnets | 7/25/2010 9:51:26 AM
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Hands down BEST!!! MOVIE I SEEN THIS YEAR IT WAS AWESOME....
To Die For !!!! 
Posted by: kidloveshearts | 7/25/2010 2:41:25 AM
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
I dont care what no one says but this is a good movie this is one of the best of the movies ive seen all year. The suspense is crazy like you dont know whats coming next and most movies are predictable but not this one this one has you in shock all the time. Now Angelina is the best actress in the industry today who can pull of a movie like this no one but her, she had twins and went into shooting this movie now you have to be talented to be this freaking good. I absoultely loved her the action is wild. Is a must see movie i highly recommend everyone to see it if not there your lame !
ACTION....ACTION...ACTION 
Posted by: Lu_pita | 7/24/2010 11:01:47 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
Agelina Jolie is awesome! Salt kicked butt through out the entire movie. I appreciated the fact that her character was not “sexualized”….she portrayed an intelligent, strong and powerful female. There was never a dull moment!!!!!!!
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