A recent Russian-U.S. spy scandal gave an additional boost to a new Hollywood blockbuster presented in Moscow on Sunday by its main star Angelina Jolie, RIA Novosti reported.
Jolie came to Moscow to promote the film, Salt, where she plays a CIA officer accused of being a Russian spy.
The film, loaded with the chase and tough fight scenes, comes shortly after ten Russian spies were exchanged for four U.S. spies in a deal with Washington.
The spy scandal was heated by the international media mulling the story of the leading female heroine in the spy row - Anna Chapman. No wonder, Russian media was eager to draw parallels between Chapman and Jolie's role.
"Here no one cares about Anna Chapman, I do not think she was a significant figure in this espionage ring. Yes, she made the headlines with all that rumors concerning her sexual affairs, but there is nothing distinguishing about her," a young man from Jolie's fan club said at the premiere.
Salt's director, Phillip Noyce earlier told U.S.About.com web site: "They [11 Russian spies] will be at the Russian premiere in two weeks time and then they will come back. Anna Chapman, she's under contract to Columbia."
In an interview to the Russian NTV channel Jolie said the spy row definitely served a wonderful promotion to the film, but she was for the good relations between the United States and Russia.
No matter how much fuss in the world was made around the spy story, because on Sunday evening Muscovites' attention was fully focused on Angelina. People were jamming inside and outside the Karo Film cinema discussing her red gown, her red lipstick and her genuine sincerity in communicating with people.
Salt, as it befits to the Hollywood blockbuster, was packed with an incredible mix of facts - the Kennedy's murder by the Russian, Cold War era spy defector making revenge plans, assassination of both Russian and U.S. presidents as well as the U.S. nuclear missiles targeted at Mecca.
It seemed the public was happy to hear and watch that Hollywood-style ridiculous stuff since all this mess was led by irresistible Angelina.