The Reel Review
A career spy is tasked with uncovering the identity of a traitor within the organization, but there’s a catch – his wife, also a spy, is among the five suspects. Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett star in this spy thriller from director Steven Soderbergh (Presence, Traffic, Erin Brockovich).
With former James Bond Pierce Brosnan as their boss and former Moneypenny Naomie Harris (No Time to Die, Spectre, Skyfall) as the staff psychiatrist – Black Bag leans in to its twisty Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibe with slick locales, an intricate, dialogue-heavy plot and cool visuals, even if the ridiculously contrived story itself pushes the boundaries of believability.
Regardless, it is the solid acting performances that make Black Bag work. Fassbender is the meticulous, buttoned-up George with a wonderful Blanchett as the more flirty and glamorous Kathryn. Their onscreen chemistry gives authenticity to this story about marriage, devotion, secrets and lies. They and their supporting cast, which includes a scene-stealing Marisa Abela (Industry, Back to Black), Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton) and Tom Burke (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga) are what make Black Bag a fun, more cerebral spy thriller, all the way up to its big whodunit finish.
REEL FACTS
• Black Bag is director Steven Soderbergh ‘s first collaboration with Cate Blanchett since 2006’s The Good German, and his first with Michael Fassbender since 2011’s Haywire.
• Black Bag screenwriter David Koepp first conceived this spy movie while writing the screenplay for 1996’s Mission Impossible.
• Black Bag was filmed at London’s Pinewood Studios and on location in London and Zurich.
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