“Black Bag” Review
In Steven Soderbergh’s “Black Bag”, Cate Blanchett finds herself suspected of being a traitor to her country’s intelligence apparatus and must clear herself as her husband (Michael Fassbender) also investigates this dilemma.
After releasing the impressive contained supernatural horror film “Presence”, director Steven Soderbergh has already returned to cinemas with another film made in partnership with screenwriter David Koepp. Since their prior collaboration had enthralled me so much, I was anticipating their espionage thriller film “Black Bag” and with its intriguing characters and quick pace, Soderbergh is able to craft a solid spy film that, in many ways, goes against the more popular conventions of the genre while staying relevant.
Working in British intelligence, George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) and Kathryn St. Jean (Cate Blanchett) are a married couple of agents whose devotion to the country is second only to their love for each other. However, this love is tested when George is called in to investigate a potential leak within the agency that is narrowed down to a select few agents. The big surprise in George’s digging is that Kathryn is one of the possible traitors. Despite the love he has for his wife, George must figure out what’s really going on behind closed doors as the mystery behind the leak grows and has immense real-world consequences.
With many spy films like the James Bond franchise and “Mission Impossible” having a strong emphasis on action with jaw-dropping sequences of impressive stunt work and pyrotechnics, “Black Bag” takes things in a different direction by focusing on surveillance and espionage. The film is more about the chase for this turncoat and the suspense that accompanies it. While this may turn off viewers who were expecting more violence but “Black Bag” keeps your attention with a slick sense of direction.
Koepp’s screenplay has plenty of punch with these characters that blur the line between personal and professional which is a bit of a problem given their line of work. Along with a dry, very British, sense of humor, Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett are excellent with a powerful sense of chemistry and a demeanor that comes across as cold yet engaging. Despite a strong love for each other, the pair are excellent at balancing their work and home life which makes them a sharp couple, unlike their coworkers who are also suspected of being the traitor in their agency.
Soderbergh also excels in direction, keeping things quick to the point by making sure every scene has purpose. Whether the characters are at work actively spying on people using the latest technology or interrogating them with polygraph tests or just relaxing at home, everyone is playing the game of cat and mouse to find out what they need to know. Not one scene feels wasted and Soderbergh keeps an effective pace as the film’s editor.
Set in a short time of a week and only 94 minutes long, “Black Bag” does feel too short for its own good but it still feels riveting and is certainly preferable to an overstuffed slog. The dedication of Soderbergh to making films efficiently and with a high standard of quality is certainly admirable, especially when we look at the results including the two films he has released this year. If a swift and intense spy film is desired, “Black Bag” might be what is needed to satisfy this craving.
