Salt – Dual Review

Brad Reiter: Who is Salt?

That is the question we are asked on the promotional material for Angelina Jolie’s newest film, Salt, and as we find out right away, is Evelyn Salt (Jolie), a CIA agent, who is falsely accused of being a Russian spy sent to kill the President of Russia, who will be attending the funeral of the Vice President of the USA in New York, or at least she says she’s innocent. Liev Schreiber plays Winter, Salt’s partner and the only one that believes she is who she says she is. The plot is easy to follow, but the ending can be seen right away after the first meeting between Salt and the Russian accusing her, Orlov (Daniel Olbrychski).

After she is accused, Salt decides to run, why? Because if she decided to talk to the members of Counter Intelligence, headed by Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor), we wouldn’t have a movie.

Jon Peters: Let me ask this: what should have been Salt?

But before I answer that question, to me, Salt was a very simple – and that’s not a bad thing – action flick who showcases real stunts over CG and also some of writer Kurt Wimmer’s favorite things: insubordinate employees. Jolie has been severely typecast as an action heroine, from Tomb Raider to Mr. and Mrs. Smith to Wanted, and now this, and while the placement of her character and the film is in a post-Bourne world, Salt is one of her better action roles. It’s her show, even though I really like Chiwetel Ejiofor and Liev Schrieber, they’re given little to do. Why are all  Nikolia’s, Russian double-crossing agents? So anyway, as an action movie, it really entertains on basic levels.

Brad: Like Jon said, we get action right away to start the movie, so there is no waiting for something to happen, but midway through the action stops and we get a couple of dialogue driven scenes. These scenes, along with flashbacks to explain Salt’s past are the weakest parts of the film, and make the 96 minute run time feel a lot longer. The major strengths of the movie are the fight scenes and stunts, and that is where the movie really shines. There is an interesting twist a little more than halfway into the movie that wants to be even more clever than it really is. About 20 minutes later there is another twist, and this one is even more obvious than the first.

The movie looks really nice, although when the action scenes are going on, it feels too much like a Bourne movie with the shaky cam. Jolie is very good as the action hero or maybe villain. Liev Shreiber is fantastic as Winter. We even get a scene with wonderful character actor Andre Brower. It’s too bad that all he gets is one scene.

Jon: Brad, you bring up some good points. At any one twist, the film could end, and sure, it is preposterous, but I’m glad we get a little old fashioned Cold War spy/nuclear war plot, instead of those tiring terrorists. The twists do get more obvious, yet to me that’s not really a deal-breaker. The film stumbles when it has to explain itself, especially with the flashbacks and even the opening interrogation scene. It’s long-winded; less is more. But going back to my question of what Salt should have been, as decent as it is, for what it is, I had this feeling that Salt should have been developed for television. With the absence of Alias, Salt would have been perfect for syndication, especially since the film just sort of ends. It felt episodic, so Wimmer’s script could have been retooled for a pilot, plus a handful of episodes.

That might sound like I’m slighting it, but Salt is a basic, no-frills action film, a sister to Wimmer’s Equilibrium and the better half of Ultra Violet.

Brad: When comparing this movie with other recent spy movies like the Bourne series or even a fun action film from this year like The A-Team or From Paris With Love, it brings up the rear, but that’s not totally a bad thing. If you are looking for a good time, where you don’t have to think for an hour and a half, then this is the perfect summer popcorn movie. Director Philip Noyce said to enjoy this film for what it was, and that’s exactly what should be done.

Jon: I think we have slightly different feelings about the film, but we;re concluding the same. Given the state of most action films this summer, Salt is breezy fun, but flawed fun.

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