Released: 14th March 2025 (UK and US)
Length: 94 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page and Pierce Brosnan
Modern spy stories have taken different shapes outside of the big franchises. Some opt for the small-screen approach while others lean into the classical Cold War setting of novels. Black Bag, the latest release from Steven Soderbergh, carves out its own space. How? By stripping things back to the bare essentials.
In modern Britain, the spy couple George (Michael Fassbender) and Kathryn Woodhouse (Cate Blanchett) are caught up in a conspiracy involving a stolen cyber-weapon. Severus is set to be unleashed in a week and George is tasked with tracking down the leak. His suspects include five colleagues at work, including his own wife. With a combination of blackmail and frequent misuse of work resources, George’s loyalties and covert activities are pushed to the limit. At ninety minutes long, Black Bag gets straight to the point and never gets distracted; a rarity in the genre today. Right away, the narrative is laser-focused on identifying the key players, the way they interact with each other and a set of interconnected twists. We’re always wondering what will be brought to light and who will be caught out first. The way the film accomplishes this without relying on frequent action is very impressive. Instead of loud explosions and intense combat, the sense of intrigue is always placed front and centre.
The performances in Black Bag are highly nuanced and precise, a creative choice that matches the age of the characters as well as their professions. Every actor is very well suited to their role, controlling the flow of information as the finer details are teased out. Michael Fassbender presents George as the most skilled and conniving of the group, emphasising a deft hand in surveillance. He plays off brilliantly with Cate Blanchett who creates a ruthless efficiency to Kathryn. With just a few lines of dialogue, the audience is informed of their close marriage and the lengths they are willing to go to protect each other. Most of their colleagues are characterised by snide arguments and snooty comments. Naomie Harris plays Zoe Vaughn, a psychologist who tries to hide behind professional privilege. Tom Burke’s Freddie Smalls has an embarrassing secret revealed in the early going and Colonel James Stokes (Regé-Jean Page) is the most forthright of the lot after his military service. The dialogue is smartly written with a sense of dry humour that creeps in at all the right moments. It’s a case of revealing individual facts as well as the wider conspiracy. The only weak link of the bunch is Pierce Brosnan; he’s a talented actor with great experience in the spy scene, but he goes by very underused when compared to the rest of the cast.
The film’s look is just as intricate with a sleek, minimalistic aesthetic. Lighting, set designs and costume work all coalesce into a wealthy sophistication. The characters are very comfortable in their lives, a deceiving facade with danger lurking below the surface. Many of the scenes often take place in low-lit evening settings, fully immersing the audience. When we do see violence, it’s quick and abrupt, showing the proficiency of the spies. Tracking and POV shots follow the cast closely, allowing the audience to read their facial expressions at every turn. The music is often muted and foreboding with one sequence involving a drone strike feeling especially solemn. The tone is appropriately detached, an assassination triggered from many miles away. The set pieces are much more subdued when compared to other efforts, but the film still makes the most of contained features.
Black Bag epitomises the simple but effective thriller. It’s lean, taut and maintains a sense of tension while trimming all the fat. Some of the main cast members could have used more depth, but this production will satisfy any fan of espionage cinema. Those waiting for the next rendition of 007 will also be firmly engrossed.
Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)
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