Summary
: Evelyn Salt (
Angelina Jolie
) is an undercover CIA goddess but suddenly accused of being a Russian spy with plans to overthrow the government. Salt insists she is innocent, wreaking havoc and rocking new wigs from DC to New York City with the audience never knowing if she is on the side of the Russians or Americans.
Review
: Angelina Jolie is one of those rare actresses that can be taken seriously in a dramatic role yet blaze up the screen in an action thriller --
Salt
is no exception. Easily the best action movie of 2010, which may not say a lot, but it's hard not to enjoy the explosive special effects, vicious stunts, sincere acting moments from Jolie and a wig collection that would make
Raquel Welch
and
Wendy Williams
applaud.
Sure, some will whine about the implausibility of the plot and the action that makes Evelyn Salt seem more like the Bionic Woman than an undercover spy. But, leave the unrealistic complaints for films that take itself too seriously like
Inception
or
Clash of the Titans
. For every eyebrow raising plot twist, there are enough redemptive moments like the hardcore fighting scenes and stunts that deserve a standing ovation. Furthermore, Jolie's presence on screen is impossible to ignore. She knows how to be a slinky seductress and then a vigilante Ms. MacGyver within one scene.
The cast also includes
Liev Schreiber
and the eternally stellar
Chiwetel Ejiofor
. I hope someone
gives Ejiofor a starring role in a movie
soon. The English actor is the next
Morgan Freeman
and whether he has one line or 20, he works a character with every fragment of his body.
In the end,
Salt
has no heavy agenda or political motivation; it's only coincidence that Russian spies are all the rage now. Yes, it is formulaic, but it does the formula right.
Salt
is in theaters nationwide tomorrow.
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