SALT

CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) finds her world turned upside down when she is accused of being a Russian double agent out to assassinate the Russian President. To make matters worse her husband appears to have been kidnapped – are the two incidences connected? So, with her own country turning against her Evelyn goes on the run to clear her name, save the Russian President and find the man she loves. But despite her protest of innocence can Salt really be trusted?

Director Phillip Noyce has crafted a well paced thriller full of twists and turns, expertly subverting expectations with each new revelation. Tension levels are constantly raised in a series of spectacular action sequences that prove that whoever she is Evelyn Salt is not someone to be messed with; the female Jason Bourne we have been waiting for.

Jolie handles the thrilling action sequences with aplomb while also imbuing Salt with a vulnerability to ensure that whatever her true identity we are firmly in her corner. She is supported by the talented Liev Schreiber as her CIA boss and Chiwetel Ejiofor as the man tasked with bringing her in at any cost.

While Salt is a tight thrill but I doubt the plots many twists and turns would hold up if put under close examination. Indeed its major failing is that the final revelation stretches the bounds of credibility just a bit too much. But despite that Salt remains a thoroughly enjoyable thriller which manages to build momentum right up till the final shot; which hints (hopefully) of a follow up adventure…

4 of 5 Stars