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| Salt |
Reviewed by Sab Khan
Jolie – akin to all her movies – has portrayed a multi-dimensional character in the movie Salt. The first observation you make about this thriller is, “Who is Salt?” This rocking action-thriller with a complete cohesiveness of suspense and mystery won’t let your thoughts roam about even for a split second. Although the plot is not so very well-built in any way (rather there are a few very silly notions), but the action of Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is so eye-catching and heart throbbing that it will not give you the time to ponder upon the basic plot.
This has now become an open secret to all that the director of the movie (Phillip Noyce) sought to cast Tom Cruise in the role of “Salt”, but when Cruise found no novelty in the role (given MI and MI ii), he did not accept the offer. But I must say that this was a blessing in disguise for Noyce because the movie wouldn’t be the same unless a gorgeous beauty-with-brains like Jolie wouldn’t be climbing the building with her bare feet.
The movie begins with an allegation against Salt that she is a Russian spy. She is persistent in refusing the accusation but it seems like her bosses Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Winter (Liev Schreiber) don’t believe her. On the other hand, her very beloved German-born husband Mike (August Diehl) is abducted and now she is off to find her hubby at any cost. Meanwhile, the evolution of the Russian spy angle continues. The constant switch over of Jolie’s character creates a delicious mystery and confusion in the mind of the audience. Is Salt a protagonist or an antagonist? Kurt Wimmer’s script is definitely appropriate and mitigating. “They took everything away from me” is the crux line to identify with Salt.
The movie is not a complete waste of time. If you are a movie-addict or Jolie’s die-hard fan, then it’s a must watch. It leaves you with satisfactory answers for all the questions which must have risen in your mind during this action drama of 100 minutes.
This has now become an open secret to all that the director of the movie (Phillip Noyce) sought to cast Tom Cruise in the role of “Salt”, but when Cruise found no novelty in the role (given MI and MI ii), he did not accept the offer. But I must say that this was a blessing in disguise for Noyce because the movie wouldn’t be the same unless a gorgeous beauty-with-brains like Jolie wouldn’t be climbing the building with her bare feet.
The movie begins with an allegation against Salt that she is a Russian spy. She is persistent in refusing the accusation but it seems like her bosses Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Winter (Liev Schreiber) don’t believe her. On the other hand, her very beloved German-born husband Mike (August Diehl) is abducted and now she is off to find her hubby at any cost. Meanwhile, the evolution of the Russian spy angle continues. The constant switch over of Jolie’s character creates a delicious mystery and confusion in the mind of the audience. Is Salt a protagonist or an antagonist? Kurt Wimmer’s script is definitely appropriate and mitigating. “They took everything away from me” is the crux line to identify with Salt.
The movie is not a complete waste of time. If you are a movie-addict or Jolie’s die-hard fan, then it’s a must watch. It leaves you with satisfactory answers for all the questions which must have risen in your mind during this action drama of 100 minutes.
Rating: 3/5.
The author has done justice to the movie by eulogizing it for being thrilling and edgy keeping in mind Hollywood's action-thriller genre but pointing out very rightly the loop-holes in the script which are although forgetful but still strips movie of some potential acknowledgement from critics and the brainy audience of the 'so called' artistic movies.
ReplyDeleteOverall, amazingly written review of one of the best action thrillers I have ever seen..