I don't like action heroes who are chicks. For me, kick-assery-ness are only for dudes. Call me a sexist, but thats how I'm built.
The Skinny: CIA operative Evelyn Salt (Jolie) is accused by a Russian defector of being a Russian spy. With both sides hot on her trail she must race against time, kick ass along the way, to clear her name and get to the bottom of things.
The Helmer: Phillip Noyce - Brotherhood (2006 - 2007 TV), Catch a Fire (2006), Welcome to Sao Paolo (2004), Tru Calling (2003 TV), The Quiet American (2002), Rabbit Proof Fence (2002), The Bone Collector (1999), The Repair Shop (1998 Pilot), The Saint (1997), Clear and Present Danger (1994), Sliver (1993), Patriot Games (1992), Nightmare Cafe (1992 Pilot), Blind Fury (1989), The Hitchhiker (1985 - 1989 TV), Dead Calm (1989), Echoes of Paradise (1987), The Cowra Breakout (1984 TV), The Dismissal (1983 TV), Heatwave (1982), Newsfront (1978), Backroads (1977), Castor and Pollux (1973), That's Showbiz (1973)
The Casts: Angelina Jolie (Evelyn Salt), Lieve Schreiber (Ted Winter) Chiwetel Ejiofor (Peabody)
The Prediction: Despite my confessed prejudice against lead female aciton heroes, I have to say that Jolie's foray into action flicks has been doozers. She looks good getting medieval, and thats where the problem lies; she looks too good. Or too cool for school. Case in point:the abysmal Lara Croft series. All cool and hard, but with zero audience accessibility. No 'save-the-cat' opening which can endear movie going folks to her character by 'saving the cat', i.e. doing a good deed at the beginning of the film to show that the hero is a kind and nice person therefore worthy of our sympathy and more importantly, our rapt attention. So how about Salt? Noyce is a so-so director whose history is a give and take assortment of diverse projects and subject matter. His only notable 'series' would be the Jack Ryan actioneers which sees Ford in his rightful action element.In this case, its a color by numbers action flick with the most famous female in the world kicking ass. But I think it could work.
