SALT

US, 2010, 100 minutes, Colour.
Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwitel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski, August Diehl, Andre Braugher.
Directed by Phillip Noyce.

Of course, The Salt Identity, The Salt Supremacy and The Salt Ultimatum.

We had thought that all the sleepers trained in Russia and infiltrated into ordinary and suburban US society in Cold War decades were more than middle-aged by now. But, it looks as though some of the Russian dissidents, not pleased with the collapse of the Soviet Union, and relying on their training talents of the past, have been keeping up-to-date with the program. But, the question is who is the spy and who is not and who has infiltrated the CIA.

There used to be a short British Film with Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan called The Running, Jumping & Standing Still Film. This is really the Salt Running, Jumping film (not much standing still) and Angelina Jolie spends most of the time doing just this with an agility that defies belief and a timing that keeps her alive more often that it really could or should.

When a Russian defector turns up in Washington and Evelyn Salt interviews him, he warns that there is to be an assassination attempt on the visit Russian president and the sleeper agent to be activated is called... Evelyn Salt. Is she or isn’t she? Agent Chiwitel Ejiofor believes she is, fellow department agent Liev Schreiber (who had overseen her release from a North Korean prison as the film opens) believes she isn’t. For quite a while, as Salt (running and jumping) evades and eludes her pursuers, it doesn’t seem to matter which side she is on as long as she keeps alive.

Then there is to be an attempt on the life of the US President (nothing done by halves in this movie). Will she do it? Will she unmask someone else? If that tantalises you, and you like Angelina Jolie being more energetic than Lara Croft, then you will suspend disbelief (and that is a mighty ask even when the pace is so fast) and just go with the flow, wherever it leads.

Directed by Australian Phillip Noyce who has directed some fine films like Newsfront, Rabbit Proof Fence and The Quiet American but who also showed Hollywood action flair with his Jack Ryan adventure films and The Bone Collector (also with Angelina Jolie). Popcorn action for adults – with a neo-Cold War subtext.

1. The title? The tone of Evelyn Salt’s name?

2. CIA story, audience attitudes towards the CIA, agents, codes, behaviour, operating outside the law, investigations? In different countries? The role of double agents?

3. The locations, North Korea, Washington DC, the city and its officers? New York City, the busy metropolis, the scene for conspiracies? The musical score?

4. Evelyn, tortured in the North Korean prison, the exchange, Winter and his participation? The exchange, on the Korean border?

5. Her return to Washington DC, the wedding anniversary, preparation for the celebrations? Orlov coming at the office, his claims about information, for an assassination? The Russian President? The American President? Day X, the waking of the sleepers? His accusations against Salt?

6. The consequences, action, her escape, the details of the pursuit, using her wits, getting to New York? The buildup to the shooting, her escape, giving herself up?

7. Her memories, as a child sleeper, a realisation? The barge, Orlov’s presence, her husband’s death?

8. The strong reaction, Orlov’s death, the barge exploding, Shnaider, the White House? The intention to kill the President? The false attack, safety in the bunker?

9. Ted Winter, his relationship with Orlov, double agent, the massacre in the room, the setting up of the missiles, the targets, attacking Mecca and Tehran, for an angry Islamic response?

10. The irony about the attack on the Russian President, use of the spider’s toxin, the unmasking in the room, Winter’s death?

11. Salt’s arrest, the character of Peabody, the exchanges with him, the Secretary of Defence, issues of loyalty, her being let go, to seek out further sleepers…?