Review of Salt (2010) by Secretagentgal — 18 Sep 2010

In SALT, the best action thriller of Summer 2010, Angelina Jolie proves her talent in a leading role originally written for a man.

As secret agent Evelyn Salt, Jolie builds a character that is fresh, driven, interesting and not overly complex as she moves through steep emotional challenges. In SALT, she is accused of being a Russian double agent and must prove her loyalty to the U.S.A. while spies, government agents and criminal goons threaten at every turn. With abundant plot twists, SALT is just plain fun. Jolie asked for the part and got it, giving her the opportunity to become the quintessential secret agent woman. Not only does she play the genre well, she updates and redefines it in the following ways: - Brave with Heart: There's a dramatic moment in SALT where Jolie has the opportunity to blow away a Russian operative. She chooses not to do so. Moments like these help drive the plot, but also give welcome relief from the endless shootout scenes that fill espionage thrillers. Jolie develops human interest in scenes with her gawky but lovable German husband Mike (August Diehl). - Athletic and Sensuous: Jolie avoids the scantily clad look of James Bond's women. Her physique and stamina are on display, but not exploited. A satisfying array of stunts - most of which she performs herself - can inspire viewers who identify with a brave leading woman. SALT is like the spy film Julia on steroids. Agent Salt runs, leaps, changes her appearance, and gets where she needs to go.