It is always fair to compare a work of art, whether painting, music or literature, to other works of a similar style and period. This holds true for film as well. Could you imagine trying to compare the special effects of a great 1960s monster film with the works of today? The forced camera perspective versus computerized-imaging software would be akin to having the Wright brothers race a Stealth bomber. Not a pretty picture. “Salt” has to be compared to other spy thrillers, perhaps most notably the Jason Bourne trilogy, if we are to — dare it be said? — give the film a fair shake.
Angelina Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt. There is never any pretense as to what Miss Salt is: She is a spy. We are first introduced to a mostly naked Salt as she is being interrogated by the North Koreans. Why mention her state of dress? We must remember that Angelina is no different than Megan Fox in the eyes of marketing executives when it comes to putting male behinds in seats. As this is an action thriller, the demographic is male. Hence, we are given a mostly naked Jolie being tied up and tortured. Thankfully, this one quick scene seemed to please the aforementioned execs, because the rest of the film gives us a fully clothed Jolie doing that one other thing that seems to excite the male population. The polite and proper term seems to be kicking ass.
The ass in question seems to be everybody’s. Agent Salt has returned from North Korea via an exchange for a Korean spy and subsequently returned to Washington, D.C. She and partner/friend Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber) are just finishing debriefing the Korean situation when a Russian defector named Orlov (Daniel Olbrychski) arrives. The defector is interviewed by Salt and concludes a seemingly concocted story by naming a Russian agent working in America. That agent? Evelyn Salt.
Naturally, confusion and questions arise, and Salt is forced to flee. The ensuing chase accounts for a solid fifth of the film. It is not filled to capacity with cutting-edge effects or stunts. Quite simply, it is Salt jumping from highway ramp to highway ramp atop trucks. By the third jump, it actually borders on silly. Salt escapes and attempts to come to terms with what has happened. And more importantly, why it has happened. A sordid spiderweb of intrigue soon follows.
The audience is treated to another hour of chases, hand-to-hand combat, gunfights and men in suits running to and fro. Unfortunately, there is not much else. “Salt” is as plain as the substance from whence it gets its name.
The film follows the formulaic principles of every mediocre spy thriller ever made. Further compounding this mediocrity is the completely transparent plot that supposedly carries the film. “The Usual Suspects” can rest easy tonight as there is no danger here of supplanting it as one of the great twists in thriller history.
Jolie is a megastar, regardless of the outcome of this just passable offering. When given the opportunity, she can genuinely act. She has an Oscar for “Girl, Interrupted” and memorable roles as “Gia” and Clint Eastwood’s lead in “The Changeling.” The sad truth is that there are just not that many great roles for women in film. Lately, there is not even great film, period. But Jolie has taken a very business-savvy path by keeping herself in the limelight via big-budget name films and grabbing the occasional juicy role when it avails itself.
As for “Salt,” it suffices in keeping one entertained enough not to cringe as you revel in the glory of your theater’s air conditioning. Just remember to take it with a grain of …
Rating: W W 1/2
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