Salt (2010)

Entertaining action-thriller with Angelina Jolie doing a great job again (following Mr. & Mrs. Smith) as an action heroine. The stunts are pretty well done (but don't compare with those in the Bourne series). This didn't do too bad at the box office (close to $300M worldwide, $110M budget) but no sequel despite this, at least the version I watched (Director's Cut), being left open-ended. **3.75/5**

Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is a CIA operative who having recently been repatriated in a Korean prisoner swap, is back behind a desk looking forward to going home to her arachnologist husband. On her way out of the door, she and her boss "Ted" (Liev Schreiber) are diverted to deal with an hitherto unknown Russian who in the course of his interrogation names her as a Russian spy. Now we hit "Bourne" meets "Lara Croft" mode as she is determined to get back to her husband and to prove she is not an enemy agent before Chitiwel Ejiofor ("Peabody") and his FBI buddies nail her slats to the mast. It's end to end action with lots of car chases, explosions, gun battles and the usual red herrings as she tries to hunt down the real bad guys. It is an action thriller, not a documentary - so don't expect Pulitzer standard writing nor for it to be especially plausible or to make much sense; it's just a good old take-over-the-world adventure movie with decent performances all round.

Salt is a fast-paced action thriller that hooks you right from the start and keeps the adrenaline pumping throughout. Angelina Jolie’s performance is the movie’s backbone, and she carries her role with a perfect mix of intensity and depth. The first act is particularly well-executed, setting the stage with solid pacing and smooth transitions that pull you into the story without feeling rushed. It’s a film that thrives on its direction and character buildup, leaving you intrigued by the mystery surrounding Evelyn Salt. The action sequences are sharp and well-choreographed, with a sense of purpose that adds to the narrative rather than just filling space. However, the story, while engaging, has a predictable layer for anyone paying close attention to the details sprinkled throughout. It doesn’t take away from the excitement entirely, but it does dampen some of the suspense if you’re quick to pick up on the “tells.” That said, the film’s overall presentation, from its tight pacing to its polished visuals, makes it an enjoyable watch. What stands out less favorably is the lack of closure in the final act. While the ending teases the possibility of more to come, it feels incomplete and leaves you wanting a resolution that never fully arrives. A sequel would have justified this approach, but leaving things open-ended without that guarantee feels like a missed opportunity. Still, Salt delivers solid entertainment, and Jolie’s commanding presence makes it worth the ride, even if the destination doesn’t fully satisfy.