Steven Soderbergh is once again reigniting a genre with his unique style. Black Bag is a sexy, spy thriller that serves up plenty of intrigue, entertainment, and excitement.
Black Bag Review
When you think of spy movies, James Bond or even Mission Impossible might spring to mind. These films are heavy on the action and the secrecy, but mostly lacking in the seduction department. It's been awhile since we've had a proper sexy thriller, fortunately Steven Soderbergh’s latest Black Bag is here to reignite the spy thriller by infusing it with intensity, allure, and a cast full of talented performers. Sure there is a little bit of action, but Soderbergh relies on the cleverness of the script and the charm of his cast to propel the story. And it is just what this genre needed.
George (Michael Fassbender) and Kathryn Woodhouse (Cate Blanchett) are a married couple who work as spies for the same agency. When they aren't hunting down sensitive information, they are completely devoted to one another. They have the type of relationship that makes those around them envious. When George, whose speciality is spotting liars, is informed there is a mole in their midst he gets to work to root them out. However, among the list of suspects is Kathryn. In order to find the mole, George invites two other work couples to join them for dinner – James (Regé-Jean Page) and Zoe (Naomie Harris) as well as Freddie (Tom Burke) and Clarissa (Marisa Abela) – where he will put his lie detector skills to work.
Soderbergh along with screenwriter David Koepp, whom he worked on Presence with, have crafted a clever and witty script, full of subtle turns that keep you invested throughout the brisk 93 minutes. Even if you are familiar with the genre or figure out the main twist before it happens, Soderbergh and Koepp make this game of cat and mouse so much fun that none of it matters. Once again acting as his own cinematographer and editor, Soderbergh knows what shots he is looking for and the best way to cut them together in order to cast suspicion on all the dinner party guests. Speaking of, the dinner party scene is one of the best in the entire film. Expertly setting the stage for the rest of the story.
Each of these characters are intertwined and Koepp wastes little time letting us in on that fact. Over the course of their meal, the dynamics are laid out and the tensions mount as George applies pressure to each one in turn. He's not simply watching their eye movements or clocking any nervous ticks, no that would be too dull for a spy of his caliber. Instead, George cooks up something tasty seasoned with all the right spices and something that will encourage a little bit of truth telling. He then proceeds to play a game of resolutions with everyone at the table which makes their secrets spill out, getting more sordid as they go. Freddie has been cheating on Clarissa, James isn't as tight lipped as he appears, and Zoe has a darkness to her that she would rather not shine a light on. All of this occurs as George studies his quarry and Kathryn sips her wine with a conspiratorial grin on her face.
Despite the fact that lying is their job, it is never in question whether or not George and Kathryn's love is real. Soderbergh and Koepp don't dispense a lot of background on these two and that's okay, because what they do give us, which is elevated by the dynamic chemistry of Blanchett and Fassbender, tells us everything we need to know. These two are tenacious at their jobs, cool, calculating, and not to be played with. But outside of work they are solely devoted to one another with zero energy or effort spent on things that do not include each other. When their marriage is threatened though, all that lethal energy is redirected to figuring out who would dare. The tight narrative allows the suspense to build until the third act that brings everything full-circle for a gratifying conclusion.
This slow burn thriller works so well because there isn't one aspect of it that would be found lacking. Soderbergh's intentional direction and camerawork – his signature use of Dutch angles as well as extreme high and low close-ups are once again deployed for maximum effect – elevates even the simplest moments. He is also a director that knows how to get the most out of his assembled cast, allowing each one to show off what they bring to the table. David Holmes' score (who also worked on the Ocean's films) keeps tensions flowing while also becoming sultry when our leads have eyes for only each other.
Blanchett and Fassbender are electric together on screen and equally terrific when solo. Their interactions with the supporting cast are equally palpable. Combined, they have an undeniable fiery connection even as their distrust of the other grows. Blanchett maintains an air of mystery around her motivations, which keeps us and George on our toes. She commands attention whenever she walks into a scene and beware if you ignore her. Like Harris’s Zoe says an “aroma of hostility wafts in ahead of you.” Fassbender is no stranger to the spy genre, just look at The Agency, but this time he is playing a variation of his usual type. He appears way more subdued if only because it is part of the game. Page is as charming as he is venomous. Burke is affable but not totally as innocent as he seems. Harris does a great job keeping Zoe grounded amongst the chaos of the big reveals but never making her seem less interesting than the others. While Abela can trade barbs with the best of them.
Verdict
Black Bag is a sexy, spy thriller that reignites the genre thanks to its intriguing story and alluring cast. Not only is it smart but it's humorous too but never to the detriment of the narrative. Soderbergh and Koepp have crafted a whodunit as much as a psychological thriller, paying mind to keep the story moving right along without any unnecessary filler. Despite the action taking place mostly in an office building or dinner parties, Soderbergh's camerawork and direction make it all feel exciting especially as George narrows down his search and prepares for the final confrontation. It's one of the best films I've seen so far this year and I think given the chance it will become a genre favorite.
Black Bag is in theaters now. It is rated R for language including some sexual references, and some violence with a runtime of 93 minutes.
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