Espionage thrillers are another movie genre I enjoy a lot. The world of spy work, the secret deals, people selling data for money or power and others cutting corners to obtain it at any cost is fascinating. The coordinated moves and the constant hush hush (until one person breaks rank) are exciting to watch on screen.
Black Bag (2025) is a gripping espionage thriller that reminds me of the works of Frederick Forsyth. Not exactly as good but close. Written by David Koepp and directed by Steven Soderbergh, this movie brings together interesting actors like Pierce Brosnan, Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Regé-Jean Page, and Naomie Harris among others.
Set in the UK, a top-secret software program named Severus is leaked from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and most likely to be sold to the highest bidder. George (Michael Fassbender) meets with his colleague who gives him the task of finding the source of the leak or the software will be used to wreck havoc and thousands of people will die. He promises to accomplish the task in one week.
The operatives suspected of this leak include his wife, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), Freddie Smalls (Tom Burke), newly promoted James Stokes (Regé-Jean Page), surveillance analyst Clarissa Dubose (Marisa Abela) and NCSC therapist, Dr. Zoe Vaughan (Naomie Harris).
George begins his task by inviting the suspects to dinner at his house and he plays a truth-telling game that reveals the operatives are not as truthful to each other. Each one of them stays on guard until a work trap is set to cause division between George and his wife, Kathryn. The culprit is out to cover his or her tracks while implicating the operative couple, making George invite this group to another dinner.
Who is this culprit? Will they survive George's dinner? What reason could they have to leak Severus? Who could the buyers of this software be?
My Review And Rating
First, a hearty applause for Steven Soderbergh because this movie exceeds my expectations. In an era when the entertainment industry release many forgettable films, Black Bag stands out as topnotch. I enjoy espionage thrillers that keep me on the edge of my seat. Kind of like a whodunit mystery that keeps me guessing who the culprit might be. Throughout its one hour, thirty minutes running time, I was hooked to my screen trying to figure out who among the operatives was the culprit.
For a spy thriller, the plot is unoriginal but good and the storytelling is even better. The cast and their outstanding performance heightens the charm of this movie. George is a character who detests liars and since he's tasked to find the leak, you can be sure what the outcome will be. He's cool, unfazed, almost like a robot until when he realises he's been played. The display of shock in that scene reminds us he's human. His calm facade and focus makes him unnerving.
Cate Blanchett's acting is okay but she doesn't really shine on her own until she's paired with Michael Fassbender in some scenes. Their sexual chemistry is what gets the attention even though they don't do much. They tease and let our imaginations go wild. They are good together and convincingly portray the married spies that other agents are envious of. Nothing and no one can come between them.
The character I find most interesting, who gives me a few chuckles, is Marisa Abela who plays the surveillance analyst, Clarissa Dubose. She's smart and has a sharp tongue that almost unnerves Fassbender's George.
I like that this movie is fast paced, no boring or aimless scenes, or annoying one-liners. There's mystery, tension, edge-of-the-seat suspense and an exciting sense of danger in every scene. All these blend smoothly without making the movie feel heavy or overdone. We are left anticipating, ‘when will the gun go off?’ The cinematography is neat and the editing done in a way that heightens the tension and danger.
Rating this movie, I will give it 8 stars out 10. Soderbergh gives us a sleek, intriguing entertainment with this movie, brought to life by a stellar cast and excellent performance. Now I'm eager to watch more spy thrillers from this team. I recommend this movie for my fellow action/spy thriller fans.
All images above are from the movie screenshots
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