So what do I mean by "salty?"
I remember hearing the expression a lot more when I was a kid, usually from my dad and a couple of uncles. Usually it was describing a man who was noteworthy for his reliability, toughness, and overall manly bearing. Sometimes it was referring to a fictional character, but just as often, it was used to describe someone they knew. Someone who could be counted on to face any obstacle or crisis with resolve rather than desperation. A person who you could count on, fair or foul. Who you just knew would do the right thing, whether the right thing was walking away from a fight, or meeting violence with violence.
The right thing? Let's amend that. Because some of the most salty characters in cinema just happen to be the villains. So we'll say that, in their case, they can be counted on to be resolutely true to their own value systems.
So when I refer to "Salty Cinema," I'm talking about a movie in which you can find one or more examples of panache over panic, resolve over indecision, bravery over cowardice, and steadfastness over capitulation.
Sometimes it's a situation faced by a group. Sometimes it's the actions of one individual going against popular thought. It may involve physical, mental, or emotional conflict. But there will be some type of conflict that will reveal who is either "worth their salt," or "below their salt."
Over the next several weeks, I'll be discussing the saltiness of some of my favorite movies. Most of them are on the more serious side, although there are a few comedies that sauntered their way onto the list.
