3 1/2 Stars: Who is Salt?

Action thrillers have always had a special place in the hearts of esteemed moviegoers of all ages they share not only the joys of having something blowing up in your face   every ten to 40 minutes but they also give you great and memorable action sequences and characters. Such as "Die Hard"(1988), "Minority Report"(2002), "Mission: Impossible"(1996)," Mission: Impossible III"(2006), "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark "(1982),  "Jaws"(1979), "HEAT"(1995)  and many more. They all in some way have contributed to the growing popularity that is the action movie and why the genre stands tall and proud as one of cinema's most popular and most prominent genre. Phillip Noyce, Kurt Wimmer and Brian Helgeland's  "SALT" an action-packed, rip roaring, fast-paced action/ spy  thriller  is not only the epitome  of what a great action thriller is "SALT" demonstrates the reason why action thrillers are the most popular form of film in the first place and why today they live on as the most prominent films in the industry.

 Phillip Noyce, Kurt Wimmer and Brian Hegeland's "SALT"  was one of the year's most hotly anticipated films  everywhere you looked you saw  the promotions for this slick and over-the-top action thriller  from director Phillip Noyce(Rabbit Proof-Fence, The Quiet American), screen play writers Brian Hegeland(L.A. Confidential, Robin Hood) and Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium, Law Abiding Citizen). "SALT" is a kind of ripped form the headlines type of action thriller seeing as it is taking its main plot and premise from a news story about a women who accused of being a Russian spy. "SALT" is a standard order thriller with amazing action sequences and death defying stunts the only thing that sets this film apart from other action movies is the fact that it has a seasoned and highly professional star in the lead role, a veteran action director who knows his way around action sequences and conspiracy thrillers. But the plot to this movie seems to be mired in an over abundance of action sequences and chase sequences and to add on top of all that the film clocks out at a measly 1hr. 39 min which leaves little for character development or story development but truth be told does a  movie like this  really  need all that? I don't think so. This film is more reliant on its action, stunts, chases, and Angelina Jolie's excellent performance as Evelyn Salt. This film has so many plot holes that you could drive a semi truck through it  is the epitome of over the top action  with each and every sequence delivering one brilliant filmed yet  outrageously implausible stunt after another. All the while, the audience is sitting there in awe at the stylish and gritty action that laid out for the audience. "SALT” is a work of technological mastery, sharp writing and fine acting all combined together to create a thriller that is just as effective as it is daring.

I am not a very opinionated person. Grant it I do have strong political views but there very muted because the people around me do not feel as strongly as I do about politics. "SALT" has strong political overtones that almost muted by the constant action, albeit the political notions expressed in this film are nothing new to moviegoers. Truth be told we have all seen something like this before but it is rarely done on such a level as it is done in "SALT.” Its over the top, boundlessly energetic, intelligent, thrilling and absolutely absorbing the way this film is able to grab your attention from the get go is just amazing  your attention does not stray for a minute you are completely involved in the story, the plot and  the mission that Salt must go on. I will  admit that this  movie has holes in its plot and its story and at times the short running time does  not give the audiences  enough time to really truly get to know the characters then again whenever did you care about  the characters in an action movie? It's all about  the action  things blowing up people getting blown up the hero round house kicking a bad guy out a window or through a door you don't want to think while your watching an action movie, you don't want some kind of philosophical  message inserted into your film you want action! Adventure! Big explosions!! If you crave all those things and more than this movie is the right movie for you with enough intelligence in its action and its dialogue to keep it from sinking to the level of Transformers: Revenge of the stupid. "SALT” is one of the best action films of the years and personally one of the best action thrillers I have seen in a very long time. It has its head in the right place and does not over use the action to burn up time on screen like Michael Bay did with his horrendous money making train wreck "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen". This film has a brain and it uses it mind you this film does not do allot of deep thinking but the amount of thinking it does is just enough to keep this action/conspiracy thriller a success. 

Angelina Jolie is not a massive favorite of mine like Nicole Kidman or Charlize Theron or Anne Hathaway she ranks pretty close to the top of my list. Jolie is known best for her action roles and for playing women who are either mentally unstable or are going through a crisis of conflict. As Evelyn Salt Jolie demonstrates why she is one of the few actresses that can convincingly handle hardcore action  just as well as any man and she does   with such style and skill, her performance is not just reliant on how well convincing she is  knocking out a guard or jumping off a building. Her performance is reliant on her skills as an actress, Jolie is a very talented one at that, it depends on whether or not you are convinced she is believable in the part  whether  she is believable as  a tough as nail CIA operative. Let me tell you now I believed ever moment of her performance and I believed every moment of this film even when it took a turn down the road of implausibility. Jolie and director Phillip Noyce and his team are able to blend over the top action with a rip form the headlines story to create one of the year’s best action films. The rest of the cast  including Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski, August Diehl, Andre Braugher Olek Krupa all turn in fine supporting performances in this vibrant and audacious action thriller.

"SALT” I can assure you will not win over very many people in fact it may turn people off form seeing it. Seeing as films like this have been made many, many, many times before  the only saving graces in this film is how outrageously entertaining   and exciting it is  lets not forget Angelina Jolie she helps save this film more than anyone else. Thanks to in part to her massive star power and her skills as both an action star and an actress she brings this film status from seen it to must see. "SALT" is one of the most enjoyable and most entertaining films to come out this year and a true testament of how a women can do anything a man can do.