Like a smart, stylish, twisty spy thriller with a dash of dry British humor? Then Steven Soderbergh has a film for you. BLACK BAG stars Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchet as married spies George and Kathryn in this cleverly-written British-set spy thriller. When George is assigned to uncover a leak in MI6, one that risks exposing a top-secret plan called Severus, the pressure is on. “Fun and games,” as George puts it, ensue.
But it is not comedy but spy thriller jolts and twists we get. The film’s title comes from a term these married spies,use for things they have to keep secret, even from each other. “It’s in the black bag,” or just “black bag” is the phrase they use for those secrets, and in fact, everyone who works at the spy agency uses that term, as they are not the only couples there. If you are a spy, who else could you safely have a romance with besides someone at your agency?
BLACK BAG jumps right into things from the first shot, with titles on screening reading “Friday” and “London,” and a long take following George (Michael Fassbender) on a quick stroll through sophisticated London streets, which sets the film’s stylish tone. The shot follows him into a neon-lit club packed with dancers, down some stairs to a lower level, and out to terrace under stars, where he meets with fellow spy Philip Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgard). They chat briefly about Meacham’s marriage, which is on the rocks after he cheated on his wife, with Philip mentioning George’s famously solid marriage as the exception in their line of work. After George suggests that Meacham’s wife might be less angry if he goes home, they get down to business – which is that a traitor in their ranks who may have exposed a sensitive plan known as “Severus.” Meacham then hands George a list of possible suspects.
We don’t see the list but Meacham mentions that George’s wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchet) is on it, and then asks George how long the investigation will take. “About two weeks,” George replies, which prompts Meacham to say that if “Severus” gets out, thousands will die. “OK, one week,” says George.
That flash of dry humor also helps set the film’s tone, along with the visual elegance of the long opening single shot. But the opening sequence efficiently does a number of things besides that, including establishing place, who these characters are, the puzzle to be solved, all while adding a ticking-clock aspect to motivate the action. The film never even mentions MI6, but we can surmise that from the London locale. Hitchcock would be proud.
“Efficient” is a good word for this highly-entertaining thriller, which runs a mere 93 minutes. Those who complain about overly-long films should appreciate that, yet BLACK BAG gets everything done without skimping on visual style, atmosphere, or any needed element.
A couple of days after George’s meeting with Meacham, the latter dies suspiciously, upping the pressure to find the leak. George and Kathryn had already planned a dinner party for other couples at the agency, so George now turns the dinner into an opportunity to probe for information, as some of the guests are on that list we didn’t see. Kathryn asks him what’s on the menu, to which George replies “fun and games.” “Will there be a mess to clean up?” she asks. “With any luck,” he replies.
The “fun and games” is a reference to “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” which goes to the original idea for the script, suggested to screenwriter David Koepp by director Steven Soderbergh, who wondered what if the couple in that novel were spies instead academics. But this couple in this clever script are not the angry battling pair in that novel and movie, even though Koepp retained the name “George” from the book’s George and Martha. Instead, George and Kathryn are devoted to each other, to the point where they might put their marriage above anything else, which raises some interesting questions for a married pair of spies hunting for a traitor in their midst.
There are more literary and cinematic references, in this smart and gripping spy drama, which combines John LeCarre with Agatha Christie, tosses in some “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” and adds a dose of dry British humor, for a highly entertaining espionage mix.
BLACK BAG is an exciting spy thriller/drama but it is not an action film. There are no car chases and no shoot-outs although there is some violence and blood. The focus is more psychological thriller and solving the puzzle, with plenty of tense suspense and strong character development.
The film’s short running time and efficient direction mean that not much is spelled out or repeated, so audiences need to pay attention. However, we do get some reminders about important points, and nearly every character mentions George and Kathryn’s strong marriage, a key aspect in the plot.
There is a good deal about relationships in the film, with explorations of the others’ romantic relationships (which go to the whodunit plot) and there are some slightly steamy romantic scenes between Fassbender and Blanchet. No sequence runs very long, just enough to make the point well. The film moves at a brisk pace as it twists through it’s story, although never so fast that you can’t keep up – if you are paying attention.
Fassbender and Blanchet are both marvelous here, perfect in their scenes together. where they radiate sexual chemistry, and in their individual scenes. The rest of the cast are outstanding too, with a cast of characters who fascinate, who are mostly other couples. Tom Burke and Marisa Abela play Freddie and Clarissa, a couple mismatched in age but who have other attractions along with plenty troubles underlying their fiery romance. Rising-star Col. James Stokes (Rege-Jean Page) and in-house psychiatrist Dr. Zoe Vaughan (Naomie Harris) are better matched in age but less so in temperament. Pierce Brosnan plays a senior spy and team leader, Arthur Stieglitz, who has been there since the Cold War, while Gustaf Skarsgard makes a strong impression in his two scenes early on as Philip Meacham, with Kae Alexander in a brief appearance as his wife Anna.
For fans of clever spy thrillers, BLACK BAG is great fun. Steven Soderbergh’s couple-centered spy thriller is not a film with any grand statement to make, but it is a highly entertaining spy thriller that combines the chilly atmosphere of John LeCarre’s spy novels with Agatha Christie’s twisty cast-of-characters mysteries. If you enjoy any of that, plus a clever, original script with a plot to keeping you guessing, a touch of hot romance, and an intriguing bunch of characters with their own problems, BLACK BAG is just the ticket for you.
BLACK BAG opens Friday, Mar. 14, in theaters.
RATING: 4 out of 4 stars
