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SYNOPSIS:
Evelyn Salt, a trusted and loyal CIA operative goes on the run when a Russian defector convinces her superiors that she's a double agent sent to assassinate the President of the United States. As the intense manhunt heats up, Salt uses all her skills as a covert operative to elude capture and uncovers a secret so powerful it could change the course of world history.
MOVIE
REVIEW:
Kudos to the filmmakers for naming the protagonist of this action thriller Evelyn Salt. The name has left many viewers wondering whether the secret agent’s identity has got anything to do with sodium chloride. Serious, we kid you not – we’ve heard people discussing whether the trials and tribulations the CIA agent goes through has got any remote connection to the salt we consume. Well, by further naming the film after the protagonist’s last name has further added to the intrigue. The marketing folks have succeeded in having people to pay attention and not dismiss it as another action thriller. More importantly, it has gotten people to ask: Who is Salt?
Salt is a CIA agent who is highly regarded by the organisation, until one unfortunate day when all hell breaks loose, thanks to a Russian spy who walks into the CIA offices and informs that the President of Russia will soon be assasinated by Salt. Our protagonist has no choice but to go on the run, with no one to trust. This brings about a game of cat and mouse which has everyone asking the same question: Who is Salt?
Australia born director Philip Noyce is best known for action thrillers like Clear and Present Danger (1994) and Patriot Games (1992) starring everyone’s favourite action hero Harrison Ford. So it is natural that you’d be enjoying this excitingly paced movie helmed by the 50 year old filmmaker. He knows what elements are required to make you continue watching till the end credits roll, be it the wham bham of car chases and explosions, or the secret setups of double crossing agents.
But haven’t we seen all these elsewhere before? Yes, indeed we have. So it is up to the cast to carry the movie.
Playing Salt is none other than Angelina Jolie, who is probably glad to have had all those practice from her Lara Croft days to effortlessly portray this kick ass heroine. Her supporting actor is the underrated Live Schreiber, who plays her boss Ted Winter. The duo’s double crossing stunts will result in a showdown that is rather spectacular. Other actors in this 100 minute movie include Chiwetel Ejiofor and Daniel Olbrychski.
Noyce may have gathered a great cast, but at the end of the day, the movie still passes off as one of the many in the genre – without any special spark which leaves a mark in the line of action movies we’ve seen. The fiery explosions, the aerial chases and the characters’ expressions of betrayal and angst are nothing groundbreaking. So do we finally know who Salt is at the end of the day? Unfortunately, no.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
This Blu Ray Disc contains quite a bit of substantial extra features. The first thing which captivates you are three versions of the movie – an original theatrical version, a director’s cut with alternate ending, and an extended edition, all with substantially different plots. The Filmmakers’ Commentary features Noyce and his long time collaborators Robert Grasmere and Joey Rand, who talk about where different characters’ inspirations came from, as well as the challenges faced at the different shooting locations. The 30 minute Radio Interview with Director Phllip Noyce provides even more insights to the experienced filmmaker’s crafts.
The Ultimate Female Action Hero is an eight minute featurette which focuses on how Jolie played the CIA agent and executed the required stunts, something which was originally written for a guy. In the five minute Spy Disguise: The Looks of Evelyn Salt, you get to see how Jolie struts her stuff through different appearances in the movie.
There are also a few Blu Ray exclusive featurettes included here. The 30 minute SALT: Declassified – An Undercover Look at the Secrets of Making SALT is a lengthy but informative behind the scenes look at how the movie’s script is conceptualized and eventually materialized into production. The Real Agents is 13 minute clip which give you a chilling look at how former Cold War agents played dangerous spy games. The Modern Master of the Political Thriller: Phillip Noyce is a nine minute clip which has the cast sharing their experiences of working with the director. The seven minute False Identity: Creating a New Reality shows you how some of the movie’s visual effects were created by the technical geniuses. The interesting Spy Cam: Picture-in-Picture Track shows a small window which pops up at the bottom right hand corner of the screen while you are watching the movie. The cast and crew share more behind the scenes secrets as you watch the action unfold.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The visual transfer for the movie is perfect – the high definition sharpness is amazing, which makes the viewing experience totally enjoyable. The powerful audio track is available in English 5.1 DTS, Thai, Tamil, Telugu, Turkish, Czech, Hindi, Hungarian, Polish and Russian 5.1 Dolby Digital.
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RATING :
Review
by John Li
Posted on 24 December 2010
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