Salt is an action packed mystery thriller with plot twists galore. It’s got a simple plot really, but it twists and turns regularly to keep things interesting. It’s got some great action and some great intrique, but it’s also got a significant dose of gritty political drama which limits its value for those who prefer smooth action hero movies without the gritty drama.
Angelina Jolie does great as a triple agent who was trained as a Russian spy to be a double agent in the American CIA, only to trick her Russian comrades and save the world. The main supporting cast members also do great, including Chitwetel Ejiofor (the black guy from Doctor Strange, 2016) who plays her boss at her CIA, and Liev Schreiber (Logan’s evil doppelganger from X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 2009) who plays a legit double agent only revealed towards the end. Plot twists aplenty!
All in all, with its simple but twisting plot, a few strong actors, decent budget & effects, and its mood regularly fluctuating between thrilling and unpleasant, I rate this movie as just OK, which is a respectable rating – all the movies I’ve rated OK provide a fair level of entertainment – they’re more than just watchable. But as tempted as I am to rate it Decent, I can’t because there’s something missing. There’s a lack of soul & spirit to this movie. It’s all very cold and intermittently depressing, and it could certainly benefit from a more advanced plot, script and cast. Angie’s also getting on a bit in this movie – she’s in her mid 30s here, which isn’t a big deal, but she’s not in her prime any more.