Black Bag
Black Bag is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Rated R. Common Sense says 15+.
When intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse (Cate Blanchett) is suspected of betraying the nation, her husband (Michael Fassbender) - also a legendary agent - faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country.
STORY: C+
This whodunit favors feel over mystery.
For those who love connecting dots and solving a film’s mystery before the third act, good luck. The plot's unsolvability doesn’t stem from sloppiness. It’s just not the point.
The story is less interested in letting you feel like a spy and more interested in soaking in its own sultry, espionage soaked vibe.
PEOPLE: B+
This cast aren’t real spies; but they play them in the movies.
I’m not sure how Blanchett and Fassbender manage to stay so slim while they’re chewing up entire buffet tables of scenery. They - and the rest of the cast - seem to be having a blast. Their stylized performances run in perfect lockstep with the story’s ethos.
FILM NERD STUFF: B+
A stunning opening “oner” sets the mood.
The film opens with the camera following Fassbender, the back of his head cemented in the middle of the frame as he wends his way through London’s nightlife on his way to a pick-up. It’s minutes before the camera cuts away.
Taking so long to break away ramps up the tension, raises the stakes, and sets this mystery to sizzle.
ONE BIG LESSON: C-
Marriage is hard.
Don’t let those perfect Insta and Facebook families fool you. It takes a lot of work to look that way. Especially in this line of work.
FINAL COMMENTS:
Black Bag is definitely a spy story, but that doesn’t mean Soderbergh has evolved into John le Carre.
While there is plenty of authentic spycraft and double-crosses, he remains interested in the same themes as he was in sex, lies and videotape. Love, trust, and intimacy take center stage, along with a muted dash of the glitz so prevalent in his Ocean’s films.
If you love watching serious actors sink their teeth into fun roles, or if you love watching the ins and outs of authentic spy work, this movie is for you.