Filled with a strong script and good performances, Black Bag serves as a sharp, yet tight spy thriller from beginning to end.
In Black Bag, when a piece of spyware known as Severus gets out into the open, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) agent George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender, The Killer) is tasked with rooting out a mole within the agency. However, George must go to extraordinary lengths to uncover the truth when he discovers that his wife Katherine (Cate Blanchett, Borderlands) is among the suspects. All the while, George and Katherine must protect themselves from any blowback and ramifications the leak may have caused.
The Amazing World of Spies in Black Bag
With Black Bag, the latest film from director Steven Soderbergh (Presence), Soderbergh creates a sharp and intense spy thriller. One that leaves you guessing from the first frame down until the last. This is largely due to a tight script from screenwriter David Koepp (Jurassic Park). Koepp fills the script with cat-and-mouse verbosity and intrigue that reveals itself through clever dialogue. Koepp even manages to add some humor now and then. But Koepp never loses focus on its main characters, keeping track of their motivations throughout.
Back to Soderbergh, through the alias Peter Andrews, Soderbergh serves as director of photography and shoots the scenes with a significant dynamic in play. He employs a handheld feel when using the camera only in times of suspense. It results in the camera mainly staying static as two characters are talking to each other. Yet, the production design, courtesy of Production Designer Phillip Messina (Heretic), works in tandem with the cinematography as the sets reveal larger-than-life settings. Namely, the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) offices feel like a combination of real-world spy agencies such as the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) mixed in with fictional spy agencies like MI6 from the James Bond franchise.
Score and Editing
Moreover, the larger-than-life aesthetic also extends to the score. Composer David Holmes (The Apprentice) positions the score with a rhythm of bongos and drums creating a tense, but spell-binding sound to the score. Which in turn, helps with the momentum of the scenes. Speaking of that momentum, Soderbergh (under the alias Mary Ann Benard) edits the film down to only one hour and thirty-four minutes. As a result, the film gets straight to the point, removing any fat from the plot. That said, a part of that can be attributed to Koepp’s script, as it sets the basics for the story.
Performances in Black Bag
On the cast, Michael Fassbender (Next Goal Wins) leads the cast as NCSC agent George Woodhouse. As George, Fassbender is magnetic, delivering a cold, singular performance where he maintains his composure. All while also showing emotion. This is in comparison with Cate Blanchett’s (Borderlands) Katherine. Blanchett plays Katherine with a strong yet seductive angle. As a result, Fassbender and Blanchett’s chemistry with each other is strong. Both of them can match each other’s vulnerabilities.
As for the rest of the cast, they all deliver good performances. A prime example of this is the standouts, which include Tom Burke (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), Marisa Abela (Back in Black), and Rege-Jean Page (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) as Freddie Smalls, Clarissa Dubose, and Col. James Stokes. The three remain strong standouts, with Burke and Abela having abrasive chemistry that informs the audience about their characters. Meanwhile, Page plays Stokes with a youthful yet understated cockiness. Rounding out the cast are Naomie Harris (The Wasp) and Pierce Brosnan (Black Adam) as Dr. Zoe Vaughan and Arthur Stieglitz. Both deliver solid performances, though Brosnan only has limited screen time.
Final Thoughts
About Black Bag, director Steven Soderbergh creates a sharp and intense spy thriller that leaves you on the edge of your seat from minute one. A part of thanks is due to screenwriter David Koepp’s strong script. As a result, the film is a cat-and-mouse chase filled with intrigue and verbosity. All the while, the performances led by Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett are strong. Black Bag is a taught little spy thriller that manages to work due to the strength of its collaborators.
