“Soderbergh proves spy movies can still be made for adults!”
Cool, suave, and smart is the second-best way to describe the newly released espionage film Black Bag. The best way? “Thank God, they made a spy movie for actual adults.”
I can’t stress this enough—this is NOT a spy thriller that will find The Bourne Identity, Casino Royale, or True Lies to be satisfying bedfellows. This isn’t an action film designed to thrill angsty, ADHD-addled teens or bong-ripping college students. At the same time, it doesn’t swing entirely to the other end of the spectrum like Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. In fact, I enjoyed Black Bag much more than Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. While Black Bag may be the lesser film in a direct comparison, it’s a much easier watch, offering flashes of humor to balance the serious tone throughout.
The storyline gets pretty intense, so the humor is much appreciated. Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender play husband-and-wife spies Kathryn and George Woodhouse, a sleek and intelligent couple whose undying commitment to each other is something most marriages can only dream of. George is meticulous—changing his shirt at the sight of a single stain from a dinner he prepares—while Kathryn is more free-spirited yet authoritative. Their devotion is a constant point of contention among their fellow spooks, who doubt that such a high level of honesty, trust, and monogamy could coexist with the clandestine nature of their profession. All of this is put to the test when George is asked to investigate Kathryn, who is one of several suspects in a major government-toppling plot.
At first blush, I described this movie as Mr. & Mrs. Smith meets The Thomas Crown Affair. In all honesty, the Mr. & Mrs. Smith comparison is thin at best, working only in the most superficial sense. Yes, they’re spies. Yes, they’re married. But Blanchett and Fassbender deliver far stronger on-screen chemistry, despite the film’s restraint in physical intimacy. Black Bag is undeniably sensual, with nuances of the couple’s passion, but it never crosses into gratuitous. I’d have no problem watching this with my kids in the room.
Fassbender and Blanchett are superb, but this movie owes its charm and sophistication to writer David Koepp and director Steven Soderbergh. Black Bag is filled with smart decisions and beautifully shot. Every line of dialogue serves a purpose—there are no throwaway lines or exposition dumps that insult the audience’s intelligence.
The writing keeps you entertained, though I have to admit the conspiracy plot is fairly predictable. Pierce Brosnan’s character, in particular, feels underdeveloped. He could have been played by any aging British actor, and his role in the main plot is never fully explained or fleshed out. While the audience can piece things together by the end, his character feels somewhat forgotten and rushed compared to the rest of the movie’s careful storytelling.
The pacing is tight but never cramped. I often complain about dead air and useless scenes where actors stare into space, but every second of Black Bag’s 93-minute runtime is used effectively. Soderbergh avoids the common director’s trap of turning this into a bloated think piece bogged down by frustratingly long pauses. Instead, he delivers solid, engaging storytelling.
Is this movie perfect? No. But it’s good—and made for actual adults. There’s nothing wrong with mindless action. Believe me, I love it. But after years of superhero movies, I’m ready for something different. Black Bag delivers. It’s a solid 8 out of 10 for me.
