Film Review - Black Bag

A sharp script by David Koepp and strong performances from Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett elevate Steven Soderbergh’s spy thriller

Credit: Focus Features/Universal

Screenwriters seldom get huge amounts of publicity, but I was pleased to see David Koepp get a big shout in the trailer for Steven Soderbergh’s new thriller, Black Bag. Koepp’s cracking dialogue and keenly observed twists ensure the audience is wholly engaged in this low-key but consistently gripping spy tale. It feels a bit like John le Carré’s meets Soderbergh’s psychological thriller sensibilities, recalling Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) and Side Effects (2013), for instance. Although unlikely to be remembered as a classic, it has plenty of genre pleasures and passes the time in perfectly agreeable fashion.

After Michael Fassbender’s rather dull character as a meticulous, Smiths-obsessed assassin in The Killer (2023) — David Fincher’s most disappointing film since Alien 3 (1992) — Fassbender plays another fastidious character here: British intelligence officer George Woodhouse, his name perhaps a nod to le Carré’s spymaster protagonist, George Smiley. In true Smiley fashion, George is on the trail of a traitor in MI6, but here’s the big complication: One of his five suspects happens to be his wife and colleague, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett).

George and Kathryn have a curious marriage whereby they respond “black bag” whenever a question of whereabouts falls under required national security discretion due to the nature of their profession. Of course, as George’s colleague Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgård) observes, this makes it very easy to lie and cheat, having multiple affairs if one wishes. But George is faithful to a fault. Kathryn appears to share his determination to maintain a strong marriage, yet George is still obliged to investigate her.

An opening dinner party kicks off the fun and mind games, with other spy colleagues subjected to George’s cunning plans to unmask whoever may be involved in a serious leak of something dangerous called “Severus”. Supporting cast members Naomie Harries, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, and Regé-Jean Page are all under George’s microscope. The regulation tangled web of deception ensues, with plenty of rug-pulls, apparent betrayals, frame-ups, and suspicions that things could go all-the-way-to-the-top, as they are wont to do. Speaking of the top, it’s lovely to see Pierce Brosnan back in MI6, albeit playing a significantly different character to 007.

Soderbergh directs with his usual slickness. The tightly plotted narrative may not be particularly original, and those looking for big action set pieces ought to look elsewhere, but nonetheless, this holds the attention. Strong performances and sharp dialogue raise this a good wodge above average, with occasional moments of nail-biting suspense providing a shot of adrenaline (a sequence involving covert satellite surveillance being a particular standout).

At a brisk 94 minutes, this doesn’t outstay its welcome. Black Bag may not be destined to linger long in anyone’s memory, but it’s an entertaining watch all the same. If you’re a sucker for spy thrillers, I’d certainly recommend giving it a go.

(Originally published at Medium.)

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