Actors often face tremendous pressure and excruciating circumstances while filming action flicks. From physical training to diets to performing stunts, no matter how low or high grade a movie might be, actors often put their heart and soul into getting scenes done right, often leading to permanent or severe injuries. And Angelina Jolie is one star who always gives her best no matter what the role or risk.
Angelina Jolie’s Forgotten Action Flick that Left Her Injured
Angelina Jolie’s roles include a range of varied characters, from complex ones to some of the fiercest characters. However, one of her most overlooked films is the 2010 action thriller, Salt. Portraying a CIA operative accused of being a Russian agent, Jolie was incredible in the film.
Performing the majority of her own stunts and action sequences, Jolie’s overall portrayal was gripping, intense, and convincing. While the $293 million grossing film (via Box Office Mojo) failed to land Jolie an opportunity to kick-start her own franchise, it did end up giving her a severe injury.
Made to learn Muay Thai and Kray Maga for the role, Jolie’s stunts involved walking on a ledge atop a 12-story high building, jumping onto a moving truck, and more. While she performed these stunts with ease, a ‘ridiculously’ easy stunt ended up scarring her face. In an interview with Self Magazine, her trainer Simon Crane revealed,
During her final fight Liev [Schrieber]…She had to dive through an opening door firing a gun…as she carried the sequence on, she rushed into a corner piece of a set and bumped her head.
The result of this injury was the shoot getting delayed and the actress being taken on a precautionary trip to the hospital (against her will of course). Fortunately, the injury wasn’t as serious despite giving her a permanent scar. Yet, it is ironic to think that while Jolie effortlessly performed deadly stunts she ended up getting hurt during a simple action scene.
Salt was Good But it Failed to Land Angelina Jolie Her Own Franchise
Salt was made against a budget of $110 million and it managed to gross a remarkable $293 million (via Box Office Mojo) for an action movie starring a female lead. Furthermore, the film’s critical reviews were better than one would expect, currently having 62% on Rotten Tomatoes. Overall, critics applauded the film for its refreshing storyline and praised Angelina Jolie as an action star.
Containing a star-studded cast, a thrilling plot, and some pretty great action scenes, the film failed to land Jolie her action franchise. Despite there being plans to make a potential sequel (via Contact Music), it fell short of becoming the franchise it aspired to be.
While some of it might be associated with the reluctance of the audience to see a female-led-action franchise, Salt not getting a sequel eventually was because of its plot. Although engaging, it fell short of offering anything grand and groundbreaking, failing to bring a unique twist or a compelling narrative that would have made it stand out in the vast landscape of the action genre.
Even though it was an overall success, financially and critically, Salt’s ending lacked the cliffhanger or unresolved plotlines that often drive anticipation and demand for more movies. Despite its success and shortcomings, the film remains a notable entry in Angelina Jolie’s filmography, even though it is more of a forgotten flick now.
Salt can be streamed on Hulu.
