When intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse is suspected of betraying the nation, her husband – also a legendary agent – faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country.
A series of steadicam shots follow George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) as he walks to meet up with Philip Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgård). George and Meacham work for a British intelligence agency. The meeting is to inform George that there is a traitor in their midst and among the culprits is his wife, Kathryn St. Jean (Cate Blanchett). George and Kathryn share a committed relationship with each other despite whatever spy activities they are assigned by the agency (they only lie to each other when they have to). Anything they can’t disclose is answered with the phrase “black bag.”
To begin singling out the traitor, George plans a dinner, inviting the colleagues who fall on Meacham’s list—Col. James Stokes (Regé-Jean Page), Dr. Zoe Vaughn (Naomi’s Harris), Clarissa Dubose (Marisa Abela), and Freddie Smalls (Tom Burke). The film follows these co-workers over a week as George does his work.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by David Koepp, “Black Bag” is not an explosive action extravaganza along the lines of a James Bond movie. There’s no over-the-top, intricate set pieces. While Soderbergh delivered those with the “Ocean’s Eleven” trilogy and “Logan Lucky,” here, he sets in motion a quiet, dialogue-driven espionage thriller that will nonetheless keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
The direction is slick, and the shots are impeccably framed. Soderbergh creates a calm, cool atmosphere. Everything is elegant, right down to the moody lighting. However, to be perfectly frank, the lighting was my least favorite part of this film. It’s hazy; haloes stretch off all the lights, giving off a harshness that hides objects and details. While I found it distracting, it does play into the theme and helps create the mood of the film.
Fassbender and Blanchett are excellent in the lead roles. Like the atmosphere, they are calm, cool, and collected, stoic, and calculated in their movements while still radiating a believable relationship. The supporting cast is also superb, equally measured and calculated in their mannerisms.
Tensions rise as the film moves towards its conclusion, retaining the suspense and saving the reveal until the last second. Altogether, I had a great time watching this movie. This is Soderbergh’s second film to be released this year. It’s also considerably improved over the last movie, “Presence.” With a brief runtime, “Black Bag” is a breezy ride worth your time.
In Theaters Friday, March 14th
