MOVIE OF THE WEEK #1 (3/14/25): BLACK BAG
CAST:
George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender)
Kathryn St. Jean (Cate Blanchett)
Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgärd)
Freddie Smalls (Tom Burke)
Stokes (Regé-Jean Page)
Dr. Vaughan (Naomie Harris)
Clarissa (Marisa Abela)
Stieglitz (Pierce Brosnan)
Vadim Pavlichuk (Daniel Dow)
Andrei Kulikov (Orli Shuka)
DIRECTOR: Steven Sodebergh
WRITER: David Koepp
THE PLOT: George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) is a top intelligence agent in the UK. He is married to Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), a top spy in her own right. The definition of opposite attracting, the tightly wound George loves his seemingly carefree spouse. Given his nature and attention to detail, it is understandable why after he is alerted to a mole in the agency’s ranks, George becomes highly concerned once he starts noticing signs that point to Kathryn as being the culprit. Make no mistake, George loves his wife, but he is a man of principle and dedicated to his country; the man did surveillance on his own father, for goodness’ sake.
So, as things begin to intensify and become a matter of international security, George has to determine who the mole is – even if it means putting his own marriage at risk.
THE REVIEW: Ever watch a movie that is well done in terms of what it wants to accomplish with taut direction and performances dedicated to bringing their characters to life ... yet at the same time feels a bit pretentious and doesn’t make a strong enough impression where you will think about it months later? In the case of Black Bag, the latest aspiring to be dramatic thriller from writer David Koepp and director Steven Soderbergh, that is exactly what you get in a 90-minute package.
Fassbender’s character’s OCD-level of attention to detail is interesting ... Yet his portrayal of George, a man torn between trusting his instincts or his wife, isn’t at all turns. It’s more of a vehicle to keep the story moving forward rather than something that inherently makes you interested in him as a character. The same can be said for Blanchett’s fashionable and overly confident Kathryn, who’s too-cool-for-school – and certainly George – feel as well matched as Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck at this point. While the film's trailers and marketing may give the tease of a MR & MRS. SMITH situation, the one between Blanchett and Fassbender fails to have either the sexual energy of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's pairing nor the tension, character depth and intrigue of Amazon's recent entry.
It is Tom Burke’s portrayal as Freddie Smalls and Marisa Abela’s turn as Clarissa Dubose, however, that are the far more interesting co-workers/couple in the film that steal the show, Regé-Jean Page’s and Naomi Harris’ turns as a third couple/agency co-workers serve up more intriguing interplay with their obvious dislike of one another. Yes, they are possibly meant to be juxtaposed to George and Kathryn, but the fact they are more interesting to watch hinders the film’s overall enjoyability. There is no moment that showcases how much more interesting the other characters are than an extended interrogation scene, Abela getting the best lines – or perhaps, delivering them just that well – to steal the scene.
Likewise, the red herrings meant to make the audience feel like they are one step ahead of George feel more like a prank on them once the film reaches its apex. Unfortunately, the overwrought complexity of the explanation to what is truly happening feels like it is complex for the sake of Koepp flexing his screenwriting muscle – there are FAR simpler ways all the characters could have arrived at their final destination (and ultimately, more enjoyable, too).
The best way to determine whether or not you’ll like BLACK BAG is to ask yourself a question: If you don’t like sushi and a friend took you to a restaurant where they make the best sushi in the city, are you going to say, ‘OK, I like this’ or will you simply get there only to realize while it’s well made, it’s just not something for you based on your previous experiences with sushi?” If the answer is the latter, you’ll be better served letting BLACK BAG might not be one you will cinematically fashion.
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