When a person works in the spy game, they have to watch every move they make and keep secrets, sometimes even from those they love most. Typically, when they have to go on a clandestine operation that includes intelligence gathering, they utter two words in answer to any question... "Black Bag." Those words signal to others that an agent is unwilling and unable to speak about the job at hand. For filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Traffic), it means a feature film full of drama and intrigue wrapped up in a good, old-fashioned who dun it.
The basic synopsis goes like this:
"When intelligence agent Kathryn St. Jean is suspected of committing treason, her husband, intelligence agent George Woodhouse, is assigned to investigate her. He faces the ultimate test - faithfulness to his marriage or loyalty to his country."
As the film opens, we are welcomed into the world of espionage from the back of George Woodhouse's (Michael Fassbender; X-Men: First Class) head. In one long, unedited shot, we see Woodhouse walking the streets of London at night, and we follow him into a club, past the dance floor, down a flight of stairs until he finds his man - Philip Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgård; Vikings). Meacham hands Woodhouse a list with 5 names on it - including Woodhouse's wife, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett; Blue Jasmine) - and tells Woodhouse that one of the five is suspected of treason, so all five are to be "exterminated." Of course, in his cold and methodical way, Woodhouse immediately goes to work to clear his wife and find the traitor.
Soderbergh's films have a look and feel that make them distinctly Soderbergh, with wealthy urban settings, natural lighting, and fast-paced working environments. The lighting of Black Bag, while natural, has a grey haze over it, giving an almost dream-like look, which Soderbergh uses to create mystery. Black Bag is classic Soderbergh and some of his best work to date. While the run time of the film is a mere hour and thirty minutes, this is one case where I could see the movie running 15 to 20 minutes longer and not seem too long or drawn out.
Part of the reason one might wish for Black Bag to be longer is the cast. Fassbender is undeniable every minute he is on screen. His stoic yet calculated demeanor is intriguing, making the audience wonder what is going on inside his brain. Blanchett is subtle in her delivery, and the pair work well together. Marisa Abela (Back to Black) offers some fiery moments, and when she stabs her boyfriend, Freddie Smalls (Tom Burke; Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), one has to wonder if it is some kind of joke. Rounding out the cast is Naomie Harris (Spectre) as departmental Psychiatrist Zoe Vaughan, who ironically knows all their dirty little secrets, and Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton) as Col. James Stokes, a suave gentleman with a charming smile who could likely talk himself out of any situation.
One needs to be careful when watching Black Bag, though, for fear of getting whiplash from all the twists and turns lurking around every corner. Of course, this also means the viewer won't ever get bored.
Well written, expertly shot, and beautifully acted, Black Bag is unlike anything we have ever seen before, or at least for the last few decades. Soderbergh knows he has you from that opening sequence to the very end, and the audience is mere putty in his very capable hands.
If you are going to spend your hard-earned money at the movie theater looking for a drama-filled, well-made film, look no further than Black Bag. You won't be disappointed.
Grade: A
