‘Black Bag’ is a Blast!
Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett in Black Bag | Credit: Focus Features
When spy George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) learns that his wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) is suspected of betraying her nation, he is faced with the ultimate test of loyalty.
Black Bag absolutely rocks! This spy thriller, directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by David Koepp, is thrilling from start to finish. The film does an excellent job of staying within the boundaries of the spy films that we’ve come to know and love while also being intentional to push the genre forward. Instead of relying on big explosions and heart-pumping car chases, this film focuses on the characters.
They are what makes this film so thrilling to watch.
This film is incredibly efficient. At a little over 90 minutes, Black Bag manages to accomplish so much. From the first minutes of the film, we are dropped into the action. We follow George as he meets a fellow spy in order to get information on his next mission. In addition to being a fun shot following our protagonist as he walks up to and through a club, we also learn so much in the first two minutes of this film.
The conversation between George and Philip (Gustaf Skarsgård) tells us so much about what we will be exploring over the next 90 minutes. We learn the people who are involved, namely George’s wife, Kathryn, the danger that is posed, and the mission before George. We learn all of that—all of these really important stakes—in the first three minutes of the film. That one conversation also sets up the scope of the film and the timeline: George needs to resolve all of this in less than a week.
That opening scene also helps set up how unique George and Kathryn’s relationship is in their profession. Philip is having relationship troubles, which George has some advice about. It’s clear that George lives his life very differently than many other spies that he knows. And Philip doesn’t understand George’s way of living either.
George and Kathryn’s relationship is so central to the film, and that’s made clear from the beginning of Black Bag.
Michael Fassbender in Black Bag | Credit: Focus Features
Every element of Black Bag is beautifully and intentionally crafted. The visuals are so expressive throughout the film and help us get into the minds of the characters. The lighting changes from scene to scene to help reveal what is happening with the characters. The Woodhouse’s home is a treasure trove of symbols for us to pay attention to: from the lighting, to the tapestry, to the rug, there’s always something to focus on. Each of these elements reveals something about these already interesting characters.
The excellent writing and production design are highlighted by great performances by a truly stacked cast. Michael Fassbender inhabits George perfectly. He’s meticulous and particular with a rich internal life. He doesn’t show a lot of outward emotion, but he is always paying attention. What makes this character especially interesting is his ability to read people. Throughout the film, you know that there’s a lot more to George than we’re seeing, and Fassbender handles all of those different facets perfectly.
Kathryn is the exact opposite, and Cate Blanchett is the perfect person to play this character. The way that she is able to waft into a room stealing everyone's attention while seeming effortless at the same time, is a unique skill that not everyone possesses. Kathryn is also as layered and deep as George is. Though she appears to be more outgoing and sociable than her husband, she keeps her cards just as close to the vest. We learn of her intelligence, her sense of justice, and her ruthlessness.
These two are an incredible pair and I would happily watch more spy adventures that center on them.
Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris, and Marisa Abela all give excellent performances that pair perfectly with Fassbender and Blanchett.
Cate Blanchett in Black Bag | Credit: Focus Features
Black Bag is a spy thriller, but it’s also so much more than that. It takes a formula that we know and love and does something interesting with it. Instead of being an escalating series of action and explosions, this film centers on the characters and their relationships. As their mistrust grows, we are forced to wonder who is telling the truth and who is the traitor. And the film keeps you guessing from start to finish.
I had such a blast watching this in the theaters and I cannot wait to watch it again.