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Salt (2010) - Trailer Included
Salt - Available on Blu-Ray and DVD now
Director: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schrieber, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Give the star some space!
Following the checklist rules of the genre, the opening frames of the story see us two years ago in North Korea where Angelina Jolie is being tortured in a modified water boarding (or is that petrol boarding) that grabs attention and promises a level of gritty truth. Freed thanks to the tenacity of her devoted lover who launched a letter writing campaign we resume the tale in present day Washington DC.
Evelyn is now happily married to her “arachnologist” savior and we see her at work for the CIA. A field operative looking to settle down and avoid danger as a paper pusher, just as she is about to leave for the day the office get’s a “walk-in”. His name is Vassily Orlov, a former FSB (think KGB) officer looking to share information about a potential assassination attempt on a visiting Soviet Politician.
While under relaxed interrogation from Salt Vassily reveals that Evelyn salt is a Russian sleeper agent. Under suspicion she is confined and when Orlov miraculously breaks free she also escapes from the maximum security facility and the manhunt begins.
Double agents, misdirected aggression and past secrets emerge as the heroine goes off the grid to uncover conspiracies and resolve her murky past.
Jolie revving up for another chase
John Doe Says:
Angelina Jolie fans may find some semblance of entertainment but this generic actioner makes the mistake of asking us to think about what’s onscreen while getting more absurd with each misfired bid for our investment.
Obviously the first chapter in a proposed franchise, Aussie Director Phillip Noyce has tangled with this type of filmmaking before and with much the same results. Stubbornly ignoring the silliness of the screenplay he attempts to ground the story in some sort of real-world setting and hence there is a conflict of interest. Much like the Jack Ryan films, Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger, on the surface is an attempt to make a smart action film but everything we see says otherwise. It’s a real shame too because in the 70’s the Director gave us quality work like Backroads and Newsfront. Here it would have benefited from the same approach he had to the Zatoichi rework Blind Fury or even The Saint.
Ignoring the mismatched tone the technical side of the production looks expensive but seldom achieves velocity or triggers suspense and excitement.
The sharking cinematography of the usually stellar Robert Elswit (Michael Clayton, Boogie Nights, Syriana) frames all the physical combat in close up and frustratingly we don’t ever see any of the fight choreography. The exterior shots are far better in particular an aerial shot of a snow covered Russian palace. The use of handheld camera for some of swiftly edited pursuits occasionally achieves a heartbeat too.
The score by James Newton Howard (The Dark Knight, Unbreakable) is a highlight, doing its best to bolster each scene.
Screenwriter Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium) teams up with Brian Hegland for this production. Both seem to share a love of high concept fodder and so the dialogue is stiff but serviceable. It’s the use of plot jeopardy that’s haphazard letting us know early on there will be little follow through by the time the smoke and mirrors are raised. Last minute miracles and supreme coincidence drive most of the major events. Little attention is given to any character outside of the central trio and because of the cartoon story none are given time to intrigue.
The main trio of actors trapped in a bunker of worthless information.
Poor Liev Schrieber (RKO 281), he’s a talented actor who seems to have been typecast in big budget fodder and here he seems to be walking in his own footsteps. Cast as Salt’s caring superior whose designed as a chess piece in the larger story, all he can do is play it as it lays.
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Red Belt), another JD favourite seems to be in much the same place as Schrieber. Here he is the pursuer, the man of action determined to snare his pray at all costs, until the twists say otherwise.
Maybe JD is jaded, but being a lover of cold war gems from the past it was hard to accept the evil Ruskies tone of the story in a modern setting despite recent news stories of hot looking Eastern Block agents turning into Playboy filler. Where the film could have let loose with some sly humour and inspired set pieces it instead refuses to push beyond its restrictions, playing it safe at every turn.
The DVD:
The fact that the Blu Ray DVD comes with 3 alternate endings serves to highlight this “test audience says” type of studio production. None of the alternate endings offer a grittier side that resonates just guaranteeing that an open-to-sequel conclusion was essential. The making-of-featurettes explore the technology and cosmetics behind the scenes which may please those who liked the film. There is also a trio of commentary tracks that reveal intent versus execution were vastly different.
Salt on Blu Ray comes to jdmfilmreviews.com courtesy of Sony Pictures.
For more Sony BluRay DVD’s please visit the official site@ www.sonypictures.com or www.experiencebluray.co.uk/.
Trailer for Salt
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