Salt

In Salt, Angelina Jolie plays Central Intelligence Agent Evelyn Salt. A Russian defector outs her as a Soviet spy in front of her colleagues, and she takes it on the lam--seemingly to avoid prosecution for being a traitor. The movie is one long chase scene. Jolie carries the movie well (apparently the part was originally written for Tom Cruise). Even when she's bad she's good. The action is exciting rather than arbitrary or deadening, and because we are never really sure whose side Salt is on, the movie never lets us off the hook as viewers. You're either with her or you aren't as she is alternately heroic and savage in her endeavors. With Liev Schreiber is Salt's superior, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski and August Diehl. Directed by Phillip Noyce. ★★★