Black Bag
Sharply written, stylishly directed, and breezily performed by a cast at the top of their game, Black Bag is a delightfully cool and sophisticated spy thriller, with an emphasis on crackling cat-and-mouse dialogue rather than shootouts.
Premise: British intelligence officer George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) is renowned for his ability to root out double agents, but his professional judgment is put to the test when he’s asked to investigate five potential traitors, one of whom is his wife and fellow spy, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett).
Review:
Director Steven Soderbergh has made so many films it’s perhaps difficult to say if there is a particular style and tone to his movies – but his best known film, Ocean's Eleven, is fondly remembered for its great cast, its snappy-yet-effortless dialogue, and its timeless sense of style and sophistication. In this regard, it’s probably fair to say that Black Bag is the Ocean’s Eleven of spy movies.
Steven Soderbergh has assembled a fantastic cast, led by the effortlessly cool Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett, who are both excellent at making their characters feel like real people, while also keeping their cards extremely close to the chests, so that audiences can never be sure quite where their loyalties lie or what they’re going to do next. But this is far more than just a two-hander, and they’re supported by veterans like Pierce Brosnan and Naomie Harris (both Bond alumni), alongside next-generation talents like Regé-Jean Page and Tom Burke. For me, the revelation in the cast was Marisa Abela, as I was already familiar with the others’ work, but I hadn’t seen anything that she’d been in before – and there are a couple of scenes where she completely steals the show as the most junior intelligence officer under investigation.
“…a ‘talky’, intelligent spy thriller…”
The script from veteran writer David Koepp (who’s written everything from Jurassic Park to the recent Cold Storage) is a masterclass in screenwriting, packed with snappy, clever dialogue while also delivering a satisfying thriller mystery that never loses sight of its various characters and plot threads. And then as if the cast weren’t inherently cool enough, the costume design sees everyone decked out in impeccably well-tailored, timelessly chic outfits that heighten the film’s sense of style and sophistication.
Black Bag is a “talky”, intelligent spy thriller – think character-driven counterintelligence investigations like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, rather than forgettable, lightweight capers like Back In Action. The standout set-piece of this movie is a wonderfully unpredictable dinner party (where George drugs his guests to lower their inhibitions) rather than a bombastic shootout, and that’s part of what makes this film feel so different from most of what’s out there. The cast are universally great, and the fact that George and Kathryn are married adds an additional complication that I’ve not seen in a “mole hunt” spy thriller like this before.
“…kept me guessing (and gripped) to the end…”
Working as both an engrossing character drama that examines a number of relationships in this high-stress environment, and as an engaging spy thriller with an intriguing central mystery, Black Bag kept me guessing (and gripped) to the end. Coming in at a crisp 94 minutes, Black Bag never outstays its welcome, yet also doesn’t feel rushed – just a week in the life of effortlessly cool counterintelligence operatives.
