Movie Review: Black Bag
One-liner: A stylish spy games romance drama compelled by a sharp cast, spicy dialogue and solid performances.
Black Bag is a suspenseful espionage mystery romance drama from Steven Soderbergh, an accomplished and versatile director. Best known for the Ocean’s 11 reboot, Soderbergh has ventured into experimental filmmaking formats without losing finesse and style, whether big and small. His latest, a suspenseful drama, centres on a married spy couple whose intelligence work finds them under pressure, testing the bounds of their relationship and patriotic allegiance as one is pitted against the other.
As a respected director, it’s not surprising to see the likes of Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett sharing the screen. Both seasoned, tried-and-tested acting veterans, it’s a pleasure to see them at work, managing to capture the intricacies of their slippery characters without giving away the game. There’s a cold-blooded charm to Fassbender as George, playing a meticulously calculated character of ruthless efficiency, a human lie detector with an obsession in mining the truth.
Blanchett doesn’t have as much gimmickry to work with as the elusive Kathryn but still commands the screen. Supported by a solid ensemble including Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, Marisa Abela and Tom Burke, layers are peeled back as the unofficial investigation delves deeper into the thin line between work and play.
Soderbergh has crafted an intellectual Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets 12 Angry Men from David Koepp’s script. Instead of 12 characters, there are six who find themselves around a table at a dinner party. Starting with a series of overshares, we learn about each of the guests, how they relate to one another, and how their relational dynamics intersect as the film progresses. A clever way to bookend this suspenseful drama, romance, Black Bag cleverly interweaves these subplots as Fassbender and Blanchett suss each other out.
Black Bag comes to encompass their bureau and a much greater overarching story. A game of cat and mouse at first, a fairly intimate story about a married couple who happen to work in an intelligence bureau escalates into a political conspiracy.
“A little birdy told me…”
Legendary agents, the couple discover exactly what is and isn’t classified between lovers. “Black Bag” is a term used to essentially shutdown information that’s too classified to share, which becomes the crux for this engaging film. This curious tension compels the mischievous spy drama as various scenarios explain the true nature of the job and how each of the dinner table characters relate beyond the scope of their employment.
A curious whodunit among spies, this stylish film has a silky feel to it as it seethes along, giving Fassbender and Blanchett an opportunity to do their thing as truth comes to the surface. Soderbergh’s movie thrives on its dialogue and could have worked as a radio play, capturing dialogue and various one-on-one scenes to compel the drama.
The wordplay is carefully calibrated and comedic at times, toying with its characters who are all essentially professional liars. While there’s a bigger story at play, the real focus is on the interplay, as secrets, unexpected rendezvous and power plays become the currency of this chess tournament. While the characters aren’t exactly lovable, they are complex enough to keep you involved, raising the stakes as pivotal decisions play out.
Black Bag is a funny name for a film that effectively looks and feels the opposite. It’s a chic and constant curiosity, thanks to the premise of married spies trying to see the bounds of trust and just how far each other would go to protect their relationship. Ultimately a fun watch, Black Bag benefits from its sharp cast, headline acts, incisive dialogue and sultry spy games, as an accomplished director delivers yet another solid film without breaking a sweat. It moves at a good pace, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.
The bottom line: Suave
