RUSSIAN sleeper spies in America.
To many, the concept would have seemed paranoid and almost laughable prior to June 27, when 10 Russians living in America were arrested for espionage and subsequently deported, in exchange for four Western spies, in the largest spy swap between the US and Russia since the Cold War.
In a case of art imitating life, or rather life imitating art, director Phillip Noyce explores the same concept in Salt, a thriller starring Angelina Jolie as Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer accused of being a KGB sleeper agent.
Noyce and Jolie last worked together more than 10 years ago on The Bone Collector with Denzel Washington, which was criticised by some for its predictable and absurd plot developments.
Salt is arguably as absurd – as are so many films of the thriller genre – however, it is also fast-paced and gripping with several surprising reveals.
Defying the laws of physics, Jolie scales buildings, leaps easily between speeding trucks and survives car crashes without breaking a sweat – no mean feat for such a slight woman.
As it’s a thriller, where no one is quite what they seem, Salt’s motives are deliberately concealed to heighten the storyline and keep the audience guessing.
She is a desperate woman in desperate circumstances, but it is often difficult to relate to her.
Jolie does her best to flesh out the character but unfortunately, this does not make up for the sloppy flashback sequences, which are our only clues to her motivations and personality.
Schreiber does his best in a meaty supporting role while Ejiofor, who was superb in 2002’s Dirty Pretty Things with Audrey Tautou, is underutilised, given relatively no screen time at all.
Unlike many American blockbusters, the line between good and bad is often blurred, a refreshing change from the clearly defined protagonists and antagonists who usually populate this genre.
At just 100 minutes, viewers are left wanting more Salt, or just some explanations, as the door is left swinging wide open for a sequel.
Salt (M)
Directed by: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Rating: Three stars
Screening: from August 19
Reviewed by: Natasha Thorson