 Deluxe Unrated Edition Evelyn Salt, a trusted and loyal CIA operative, goes on the run when a Russian defector convinces her superiors that she's a double agent sent to assassinate the President of United States. As the intense manhunt heats up, Salt uses all her skills as a covert operative to elude capture and uncovers a secret so powerful it could change the course of world history. Angelina Jolie stars in this action-packed thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. Storyline: Evelyn Salt is a CIA agent and highly respected by all, including her boss, Ted Winter. Out of the blue, a Russian spy walks into their offices and offers a vital piece of information: the President of Russia will be assassinated during his forthcoming visit to New York City to attend the funeral of the recently deceased U.S. Vice President. The name of the assassin: Evelyn Salt. Concerned about the safety of her husband, who she cannot contact, she goes on the run. Winter refuses to accept that she is a mole or a double agent but her actions begin to raise doubts. Just who is Evelyn Salt and what is she planning? Written by garykmcd Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman, December 17, 2010 -- We bring her in or we bring her down. Phillip Noyce is kind of like the cinematic equivalent of the author who churns out those readable but not necessarily memorable paperback Spy Thrillers that sell for $4.99 at the grocery store checkout isle. Movies like Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games, and The Saint are all solid if unexceptional Thrillers that deliver reasonable entertainment in a slick package but aren't the kind of movies that are going to go down as cinema legends or even the elite of their genre. Noyce's latest film, Salt, isn't going to find a place of prominence, either, but it's still the director's crowning achievement, his finest film considering not only its technical prowess but the quality of its story. Salt is a deceptively good movie, one that looks like another recycled bore on the surface but that instead offers up a wonderfully suspenseful narrative that's packed with fantastic twists and turns, all on top of some of the slickest action of the year. Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie, Wanted), prisoner of the North Korean military, has denied all claims that she's a spy, stood her ground under torture, and has been released into the custody of none other than fellow CIA operative Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber, The Manchurian Candidate) and her husband Mike (August Diehl), an Arachnologist who has recently unearthed a new breed of spider in the DPRK. Some time later, Salt is set to celebrate her wedding anniversary, but before she can leave the office, she and Winter are told of the unexpected arrival of a Russian defector who claims to have time-sensitive knowledge that could prevent a global catastrophe. His claim: the Russian President is to be assassinated by an undercover Russian agent. That agent's name: Evelyn Salt. When the CIA's sensitive technology confirms that he's telling the truth, agent Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Redbelt) orders Salt be held for questioning. A terrified Salt manages to escape the building and goes on the run, evading agents and hoping to find her husband alive and uncover the truth before she's caught or the Russian President is killed, the latter of which could very well trigger a catastrophic war between global superpowers. From the outside looking in, Salt appears to be an unremarkable movie with "generic" written all over it, polished and shiny to be sure but seeming to promise nothing other than a run-of-the-mill "she was a top secret agent, but now she's on the run with no choice but to clear her name before time runs out" sort of genre standard-bearer plot. Indeed, Salt's opening act seems to deliver on that promise. The movie appears to be well made and highly watchable in a "been there, done that, but nice to see you again" sort of way, but once it shifts gears and it lets loose its first of many surprises, viewers will be taken aback as Director Phillip Noyce and Writer Kurt Wimmer skillfully throw all audience preconceptions and genre conventions out the window in favor of something fresh and invigorating that goes unrepentantly for the throat and never lets up. Salt goes from transparently entertaining to unbelievable surprising with a single action, and once the movie shifts gears, it relentlessly marches onward towards a wonderful conclusion that promises to throw the entirety of the film -- and all audience expectations to be sure -- off-balance. Best of all, the surprises aren't easy to see; Phillip Noyce keeps motives hidden and identities masked until just the right time when their revelations will practically blow the audience away. Salt's best asset is undeniably its story, but the film is also home to strong supportive elements -- slick direction, exciting action scenes, and convincing acting -- that go a long way in making its plot surprises all the better. Angelina Jolie's performance seems at first stilted and uninterested, but as the plot thickens and story elements are revealed, the earlier nuances of her more generalized performance take shape and support her efforts later in the film. Hers is a satisfying effort that greatly enhances a stronger character arc; raw human emotion plays as much a part in her character's journey as does her unmatched skills as a highly trained specialist. Salt is a layered movie that peels away its pieces one at a time, each one redefining both what's to come and what's already passed. For as strong as the material may be on paper, Salt needed an actress who understood the complexities of the part, and Jolie demonstrates that knowledge throughout the movie, though it may not seem so at first but certainly becomes more clear in hindsight. Jolie's performance is like a microcosm of the Salt experience; unassuming and even bland at first look, but far more complex and satisfying in the greater context of the entire movie. Chiwetel Ejiofor -- who only seems to get better with every movie -- and Liev Schreiber are both equally impressive as government agents working the case. Additionally, Phillip Noyce demonstrates a firm understanding of what makes an action scene work; Salt takes on a no-nonsense tone and delivers fantastic action scenes that are exhilarating but far from fantasy. The picture might take a few liberties, but most of the action is grounded in a believability that only enhances the tension and excitement of every scene. Salt is a delightfully steady film that's as polished as anything out there; it's certainly not Oscar material, but for an Action movie with smarts, it's tough to beat. Salt is a smart and very well made Thriller that's not content to simply follow formula. Phillip Noyce's latest picture is easily his finest, not only showcasing top-rate action scenes that are some of the best around, but telling a story that's as engaging and surprising as longtime genre fans could want. The twists and turns and big action pieces will leave audiences more than satisfied, particularly considering that Salt had "everyday Thriller" written all over it by the look of the promotional materials. With its good performances and numerous surprises that keep on coming right until the final few seconds, Salt is easily one of the more pleasant surprises of 2010. Sony has once again turned in a first-class effort, this time with Salt; the Blu-ray disc features top-quality video and audio alongside a strong array of bonus features. Highly recommended. [CSW] -2.4- Unfortunately this turned to be a muddled, low-dialog, high-action film that's some parts Manchurian Candidate, some parts Bourne, and in no case better than either of those movies. The film starts out with strength, establishing characters and intensity, and then it all falls apart when the dialog ends abruptly in lieu of an extended chase. The relationships don't make much sense, nor do we care, nor do we learn anything about the characters and just have to sit back and ride the film to its obvious conclusions. Sadly, Salt seems to want to surprise you, but if you're never invested--and you won't be--you won't care about any turn. It's only good to pass the time as an action film, a one-watch and drop, at best. Cast Notes: Angelina Jolie (Evelyn Salt), Liev Schreiber (Ted Winter), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Peabody), Daniel Olbrychski (Vassily Orlov), August Diehl (Mike Krause), Daniel Pearce (Young Orlov), Hunt Block (U.S. President Lewis), Andre Braugher (Secretary of Defense), Olek Krupa (Russian President Matveyev), Cassidy Hinkle (12-Year-Old Chenkov), Corey Stoll (Shnaider), Vladislav Koulikov (Chenkov's Father), Olya Zueva (Chenkov's Mother), Kevin O'Donnell (Young CIA Officer), Gaius Charles (CIA Officer). IMDb Rating (12/27/10): 6.5/10 from 43,645 users
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