Salt (Noyce, 2010)

[Morris Schæffer]

Teaser:

http://www.davestrailerpage.co.uk/

One of the top links!

[Grouchy]

Heh. Pretty old school.

[eternity]

That looks really awful. And also kind of nonsensical.

[Grouchy]

That looks really awful. And also kind of nonsensical.
Yeah, it's kind of hilarious how one second she's a normal person in a suit, and as soon as the "You're Evelyn Salt" scene happens, she's suddenly able to fly.

[BuffaloWilder]

Wow, Phillip Noyce hasn't made a good movie in a really long time.

[eternity]

Yeah, it's kind of hilarious how one second she's a normal person in a suit, and as soon as the "You're Evelyn Salt" scene happens, she's suddenly able to fly.
"You're a Russian spy."

And now all of a sudden she's running from every agency and killing everything in sight, only to keep screaming "I'm innocent!"

Come on.

[Dukefrukem]

Looks like a Mrs. Smith movie.

[The Mike]

Noyce and Schreiber? I'm in.

Shit, The Operative too? WAY in.

[The Mike]

OK, now that I've actually watched the trailer, it seems like it wants to be in the same universe as Hancock.

In which case, I'm still totally in.

[Sxottlan]

Lame title. I'll wait for the sequel, Pepper.

[The Mike]

They did miss the boat by not making her first name Veruca.

[Sxottlan]

Meh. Parts of this were good, others parts not so much.

You'd think that someone would realize that Salt didn't really kill anyone in the course of her rampage. As soon as the guy said he "didn't feel a pulse" on the Russian president, I knew she hadn't really killed him.

The movie kind of works as a gender reversal on the standard thriller. There was a very nice portion where you really can't tell where her loyalties lie. I could see my old "Women in Film" college professor requiring this as viewing, especially for that final "orgasmic" kill.

Think Princess Leia and Jabba the Hutt.

[lovejuice]

I'm torn. It does a fine job trying to set up another Bourne-like franchise. And as a long-time fan of Phillipe Noyce, I'm glad to see him back on a big-scale project like this one. On the other hand, I really dislike how the movie becomes progressively less and less interesting. The first half an hour is wonderful; the protagonist and the audiences alike are kept in the dark as the action rolls on. Building blocks for a great thriller are there. Then everything is transparent up to the final twist. It's a shame the screenplay doesn't aim for anything more intelligent than your average super-spy movie.

I guess, yay, just for Noyce's sake.

[MadMan]

Perhaps it was due to low expectations, but I really enjoyed this movie. The action sequences were intense and well shot, and even though most of the movie was outlandish and over the top, I really didn't mind as it didn't seem all that unbelievable in terms of typical action movies. The climatic fight scene was rather badass as well, and I'm not surprised that they laid the ground for a sequel, really. It just makes sense that in the future we'll see "Salt 2" coming out in theaters.

[Dukefrukem]

Perhaps it was due to low expectations, but I really enjoyed this movie. The action sequences were intense and well shot, and even though most of the movie was outlandish and over the top, I really didn't mind as it didn't seem all that unbelievable in terms of typical action movies. The climatic fight scene was rather badass as well, and I'm not surprised that they laid the ground for a sequel, really. It just makes sense that in the future we'll see "Salt 2" coming out in theaters.

And I agree with everything you say here. This is way better than WANTED.

[Morris Schæffer]

I didn't expect a great movie, nor a good one, but I gotta say this was shittier than I expected. It has the kind of plot twists that in a more competent movie would make you gasp in shock, but here come across as hopelessly far-fetched and wildly implausible. Sure, the action scenes were kinda strong, but I never got a true bearing on our heroine/russian spy. Is she good? Is she bad? Again, this duality might have been truly interesting in another flick, but here I just didn't give a damn about our semi-hopping protagonist. The runtime - 88 minutes! - just felt too puny as this movie could have done with some room for intrigue, exposition, good old dialogue ya know.

[MadMan]

Thanks Duke-and I skipped Wanted, and so far haven't regretted that decision.

Morris I'm glad that the movie didn't last any longer than it did. Too many action movies these days are overlong and bloated. Less is more.

[Morris Schæffer]

Thanks Duke-and I skipped Wanted, and so far haven't regretted that decision.

Morris I'm glad that the movie didn't last any longer than it did. Too many action movies these days are overlong and bloated. Less is more.

I hear ya, but I suppose because I felt there was a really intriguing spy caper underneath all the testosterone, the movie's runtime never really afforded that intrigue to take center stage. Sure, the twists were there, but I was in eye-rollin' country when they materialized. Usually, for me, bloat occurs when a movie exceeds, oh say, 135 minutes, but 88 minutes is awfully brief.

Gotta say, I greatly preferred Wanted. Cared way more about the frustrated hero and the plot was nowhere near a mess as it was here.

[Dukefrukem]

When was the last time a woman could portray a badass spy?
I actually hope they make a sequel. I'd like to see what she can do when she's not considered rouge

[Robby P]

This movie was just comically awful. This had a premise to rival Shutter Island for sheer ridiculousness, featured terrible over-acting from everyone involved and included some completely implausible, cartoonish action sequences to boot.

It's kind of sad that this is being championed as some piece of new age feminist filmmaking. It's complete dreck from start to finish.

[Skitch]

And I agree with everything you say here. This is way better than WANTED.ï

You guys are bonkers! :)

Salt was horrible piece of shit.

[lovejuice]

It's kind of sad that this is being championed as some piece of new age feminist filmmaking.
It is? That's atrocious.

[Sxottlan]

It's kind of sad that this is being championed as some piece of new age feminist filmmaking.

I remember that same Women in Film professor I mentioned earlier screening Renny Harlin's The Long Kiss Goodnight for us as part of her class.

"Now, when she tells everyone to suck her dick, what does she mean?"

[Morris Schæffer]

My God The Long Kiss Goodnight. That destroys Salt! Annihilates!! Vaporizes!!! Obliterates!!!! Incinerates!!!!!

[lovejuice]

I remember that same Women in Film class professor I mentioned earlier screening Renny Harlin's The Long Kiss Goodnight for us as part of her class.

"Now, when she tells everyone to suck her dick, what does she mean?"
I thought that line is from G.I. Jane.

[Sxottlan]

I thought that line is from G.I. Jane.

Geena Davis said it before driving a tractor trailer off an embankment.

[Chac Mool]

You guys are nuts -- this was terrific. Quick thoughts:

SALT
[2010, Philip Noyce]
[***]

Noyce is an experienced craftsman, and “Salt” is another addition to his list of entertaining, solid political thrillers. It’s based on a solid screenplay with a great hook: an experienced American spy working for Russia House is accused of playing both sides by a defecting former Soviet official; worried for her husband, she escapes, setting in motion a series of violently escalating events.

Like in many films of this type, the final act strains the limits of credibility or realism. However, a few notable elements raise “Salt” above the genre fray: Noyce’s typically seasoned direction; a well-chosen cast (Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Eijofor, all excellent); and a willingness to take the plot and characters to darker places, in spite of Hollywood convention.

“Salt” is an excellent, engaging genre film.

[Skitch]

My God The Long Kiss Goodnight. That destroys Salt! Annihilates!! Vaporizes!!! Obliterates!!!! Incinerates!!!!!

Agreed!!

I couldn't disagree with you more, Chac. I like Noyce, but this was a mess, and an insult to the audience, much the way the third act of the recent Repo Men was. Nearly the entire film is a lie, a put-on, a totally false goose chase that didn't exist.

But forget all that for real debate of this flick, that was just my annoyance with it, I can understand how that may be just me. But the Spider-Girl down the elevator shaft? Give me a break, nail in the coffin.

[Ezee E]

Not bad by any means, just not very compelling beyond the action sequences. With that, it's been a while since I've seen an action movie that has different setpieces/sequences beyond shakycam-car crashes. There's actually a beginning-middle-end to them. Sure, the shakycam is there, but outside of Tron, Inception, and The Good, the Bad, and the Weird, there might not be a better action movie this year.

It's just unfortunate that the movie never really gets time to establish itself. I really didn't know much of Evelyn Salt, perhaps the point, but even by the end, I really didn't know what to think. It just ends. Eh.