salt-2010-movie-recap-review

Salt is a 2010 action thriller film directed by Phillip Noyce, starring Angelina Jolie as Evelyn Salt, a CIA agent who is accused of being a Russian sleeper agent and goes on the run to clear her name. The film also features Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski, and August Diehl in supporting roles. The film was originally written with a male protagonist, but was rewritten for Jolie after Tom Cruise dropped out of the project. The film was a commercial and critical success, grossing $294 million worldwide and receiving positive reviews for its action scenes and Jolie’s performance.

Salt (2010) Movie Recap:

The film begins with Evelyn Salt being tortured in a North Korean prison on suspicion of being a U.S. spy. Her boyfriend, Mike Krause, campaigns for her release, and the CIA arranges a prisoner exchange. Mike proposes to Salt, who accepts, despite revealing that she is a CIA operative.

Two years later, Salt is working at the CIA’s Russia House, headed by Ted Winter. She interrogates a Russian defector, Orlov, who claims that there are Russian sleeper agents, known as KAs, who will destroy the U.S. on “Day X”. He says that the first KA to act is Salt herself, who will assassinate the Russian president, Matveyev, at the funeral of the U.S. vice president. Salt denies being a KA, but is detained by Peabody, a counterintelligence agent. Orlov escapes, killing two agents in the process. Salt also escapes, claiming that she needs to find her husband, who is in danger. She evades the CIA and the police, and contacts Mike, who tells her to meet him at a restaurant. However, Mike has been kidnapped by Orlov’s men.

Salt arrives at the restaurant, where she is attacked by a sniper. She kills him and takes his motorcycle, heading to a hotel where Orlov is staying. She finds Mike’s belongings and a bomb in the room, and realizes that Orlov has set her up. She disarms the bomb and confronts Orlov, who tells her that she is indeed a KA, and that he trained her since childhood. He shows her a video of her as a young girl, killing her adoptive parents in the U.S. He says that she is the best of the KAs, and that she has a backup plan to kill Matveyev if she fails to do it at the funeral. He also reveals that Mike is dead, and that he was only a cover for her. He activates a suicide vest on himself, hoping to kill Salt, but she escapes.

Salt disguises herself as a male Secret Service agent and infiltrates the funeral, where Matveyev is giving a speech. She shoots him in the chest, causing chaos. She then fights her way to a bunker, where the U.S. president and his staff are sheltered. She kills several agents and officials, including the secretary of defense and the national security advisor. She reaches the president, who is protected by Winter. Winter reveals that he is also a KA, and that he is Salt’s real husband. He says that they are part of a plan to start a nuclear war between the U.S. and Russia, and that he has a nuclear football that can launch missiles. He shoots the president and tries to activate the football, but Salt stops him. She kills Winter and tries to revive the president, but Peabody arrives and shoots her in the neck, thinking that she is the enemy.

Salt is taken into custody, where she is interrogated by Peabody. She tells him that she is not a KA, and that she only killed Matveyev to save the U.S. president, who was the real target. She says that Matveyev wore a bulletproof vest, and that he is alive. She also says that there are more KAs out there, and that she can help find them. Peabody is skeptical, but he checks the facts and finds out that she is telling the truth. He decides to let her go, but tells her that she will be hunted by both the U.S. and Russia. Salt agrees, and jumps out of a helicopter into the river, escaping.

Salt (2010) Movie Recap




Salt (2010) Movie Review:

Salt is a fast-paced and entertaining action film that showcases Angelina Jolie’s star power and physical prowess. Jolie delivers a convincing and charismatic performance as the titular heroine, who is constantly on the run and fighting for her life. She performs most of her own stunts, which are impressive and thrilling to watch. The film also benefits from a solid supporting cast, especially Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor, who play Salt’s CIA colleagues with different agendas.

However, the film also suffers from a weak and implausible plot, which relies on too many coincidences and contrivances. The film’s premise of Russian sleeper agents is not very original or believable, and the film’s twists and turns are often predictable and ludicrous. The film also lacks depth and character development, as it focuses more on the action than the story. The film’s tone is too serious and grim, without much humor or emotion. The film’s ending is also unsatisfying and open-ended, leaving room for a sequel that never materialized.

Salt (2010) Movie Watch or not:

Salt is a film that can be enjoyed by fans of action and espionage genres, who are looking for a fun and exciting ride. The film offers plenty of adrenaline and spectacle, as well as a strong female lead. The film is not for those who are looking for a realistic and coherent plot, or a meaningful and emotional story. The film is also not for those who are sensitive to violence and gore, as the film contains many scenes of shooting, stabbing, exploding, and torturing.

Overall: Salt is a film that delivers what it promises: a high-octane and stylish action thriller that showcases Angelina Jolie’s skills and charisma. The film is not without flaws, as it suffers from a weak and implausible plot, and a lack of depth and character development. The film is also not very memorable or original, as it borrows from many other films in the genre. The film is best enjoyed as a popcorn flick, that does not require much thinking or feeling. The film is a good example of Jolie’s star power, but not of her acting range. The film is a decent and entertaining action film, but not a great or groundbreaking one.

Sources: imdb.com | en.wikipedia.org | rogerebert.com | themoviedb.org | commonsensemedia.org | rottentomatoes.com
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