It’s about time we got a quality spy-drama-thriller and, as per usual, director Steven Soderbergh delivered. As soon as I saw Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett in the trailer, I was immediately intrigued. Throw the genre together with some solid plot points and boom, you get Black Bag. With both actors landing fresh off successful TV series (The Agency for Fassbender, Disclaimer for Blanchett), it was exciting to see them mesh so well together here.
Legendary agent George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) is the best at what he does—he’s exceptional at discerning a truth from a lie. His wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) is also an agent which makes things particularly challenging when she’s suspected of betraying her country. Through a windy road of tricks and falsehoods, their infallible commitment to their marriage and their profession is put to the test.
The film has a feel reminiscent of the classic James Bond era that saw massive success in the 70s. This British spy thriller hits all the right notes and has an ending that will leave audiences shocked. The build-up is extremely slow, giving me woeful reminders of British projects like Industry or Prime Target. Thankfully, you’ll bide the time by collecting a load of information and backstory while simultaneously processing copious bits of dry and outlandish humor. The climax is well worth the wait.
The film’s title has a dual responsibility of bearing a label of mystique and functioning as a code phrase. Whenever George, Kathryn, or any of their colleagues crossed the line when it came to questioning, they would simply say, “Black bag”, signifying the subject’s sensitivity. When George begins to ask harmless questions of his wife, she sidesteps him with the phrase on a few occasions, causing suspicion on his end.
The cast worked for what was needed. Everyone was par but could’ve been easily replaceable except for Tom Burke. The comedy he brought was both inappropriate and hilarious. George’s supervisor Arthur Stieglitz was played by a former Bond in Pierce Brosnan (who I acknowledge as my James Bond) and was perfect for the role.
Black Bag gets an 8.5 out of 10. The only issue I have with this film is the length of time it takes to gain traction. When I say slow burn, I’m not kidding. But the ending was so good that you’ll feel satisfied with what you saw. The writing here was phenomenal. It was a relief to be left guessing from beginning to end. The writing is on the wall all too often with films these days so having to ponder “Whodunnit?” was enjoyable. The R-rating is right on the money since the entire cast is cursing like sailors. There are no awkward and unnecessary sex scenes thankfully and isn’t too violent. Think Mr. and Mrs. Smith but more complex and less violent.
Black Bag premieres in theaters on March 14.
-Jon Jones
Genre: Drama/Spy/Thriller
Rating: R
Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: March 13, 2025