Is it possible to trust anyone—even your spouse—in a world of secrets, lies, and intrigue? The spy thriller Black Bag explores this very topic.
As the movie begins, National Cyber Security Centre Agent George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) meets secretly with fellow agent Meachum (Gustaf Skarsgard), who informs him that a mole has stolen a cyber-worm device called Severus, which can destabilize a nuclear facility. Meachum gives George a list of five names of agents, including his wife, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), and tells him he needs to find the mole. “Give me two weeks,” says George. “Thousands of innocent people will die,” replies Meachum. “Okay, one week,” answers George.
George invites the four suspected colleagues—Colonel James Stokes (Regé-Jean Page), the in-house psychologist Dr. Zoe Vaughan (Naomie Harris), fellow spy Freddie Smalls (Tom Burke), and new recruit cyber specialist Clarissa (Marisa Abela)—to his and Kathryn’s home for a small dinner party to relax and gain insight into them. At the gathering they play a parlor game George makes up, which leads to a few heated exchanges between the guests as well as some infidelity, just as it was supposed to.
As George’s investigation continues, he starts to worry that the mole might indeed be his beloved Kathryn when he catches her in a lie. In the realm of spies and falsehoods, how can one determine who is being truthful? When Kathryn informs George that she’s going to be out of town one day in the middle of the week, he asks where she’s going. “Black bag,” she replies, which is the code agents use with each other when their ops are classified.
On the day of Kathryn’s trip, George gets Clarissa to assist him in unofficially redirecting a satellite. George wants to spy on Kathryn while she’s out of the country meeting with a spy from another country. As his hunt for the mole continues, George realizes he may have to face a choice between his love for his wife and his loyalty to his country.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Black Bag is a slick, smartly written spy drama with top-notch performances from an A-list cast. It’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy meets Clue with a little Mr. and Mrs. Smith tossed in.
Michael Fassbender delivers a controlled and honed performance as the cool, calculating, and meticulous spy George Woodhouse. He subtly displays the conflict his character feels as he begins to fear that his wife could be the mole he’s hunting.
Cate Blanchett delivers a pitch-perfect performance as Kathryn, George’s wife, playing her as a sexy, mysterious, smart, and sometimes coldly calculating woman. Blanchett nails the femme fatale style without giving away if Kathryn is one. Blanchett and Fassbender have solid chemistry together onscreen.
Pierce Brosnan delivers a memorable performance as the chief of the spy agency. The sequence in which he forces George, Colonel Stokes, and Smalls to a private meeting to reveal the agency’s leak is powerful. The audience can feel and sense the three men’s unease over the subject, as well as Brosnan’s intimidating presence over them.
With a running duration of just over an hour and a half, Soderbergh expertly weaves the plot’s twists and surprises while keeping the pace tight and taut. Black Bag is a stylish, well-crafted, and intriguing espionage film that entertains.
GRADE: B
MPA Rating: R for some violence, some sexual references, and language
Release Date: March 14, 2024
Running Time: 1 hour 33 minutes
Studio: Focus Features
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