Fair game

Can a female spy thrill minus the car chases and rooftop leaps a la Angelina Jolie in “Salt”? One look at Naomi Watts as CIA agent Valerie Plame in the opening sequence in Doug Liman’s “Fair Game” and your answer will be a resounding yes.

Liman tells the true story of Plame, whose covert status as a CIA agent is revealed by officials looking to discredit her husband, former ambassador Joe Wilson after he, in an op-ed piece in The New York Times, accuses the Bush Administration of manipulating intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to invade Iraq. The story unfolds Bourne like across three continents – Asia, North America and Africa as we find Valerie cornering sources in Iraq while Joe travels to Niger to find out the facts behind an alleged Uranium deal. Liman did a terrific job of reinvigorating the good old spy thriller with the Bourne series and he keeps the energy going here, fuelled primarily by the familiar premise and superb performances from Watts and Sean Penn. Penn as Wilson is his usual self assured, pensive and intense self while Watts superbly brings to life the grace under pressure and strength of character a mother (who also happens to be a spy) should possess.

“Fair Game” is both an intelligent and exciting watch. So what if the crash boom action is missing here; it crackles with the energy of the lead pair.