“If a situation presents itself, would you choose your marriage over everything else?”
Intelligence agent George Woodhouse has a nearly impossible assignment: finding the mole amongst his inner circle. This mole stole a secret program, capable of creating a nuclear meltdown and killing thousands of innocent people. The short list contains five of his coworkers, which unfortunately includes his loving and devoted wife Kathryn. As he investigates, things start not adding up and he realizes Kathryn may not be the person he thinks she is.
Black Bag is an old school thriller, the name referring to a “black bag operation” or a covert or clandestine mission. The vibe is less Ian Fleming and more John le Carré, with most of the excitement coming from tense high-stakes conversations. That being said, the pressure in this film is relentless. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish, and it is so rare to find a thriller that can truly keep the momentum through the full runtime.
Though the writing is absolutely on point, the acting is really where the magic happens. Michael Fassbender is so good as the analytical neurodivergent-coded George that I genuinely forgot it was him. He dissolves into this role of pure calculation and staunch morality, yet he is never so unapproachable that we can’t identify with his struggle. Cate Blanchett as Kathryn is simultaneously his antithesis and perfect equal. She is fierce, curt and blasé about morals. Despite that, their chemistry is so palpable that it feels real, like you’re watching a married couple on screen just going about their day. The rest of the cast still deliver great performances, but Regé-Jean Page is the stand-out by far as the manipulative and cunning Col. James Stokes. My partner still maintains that he should be James Bond, and after seeing him in Black Bag, I’m inclined to agree.
As far as Steven Soderbergh’s movies go, this is by far my favorite, even topping the Ocean’s movies. Here the dream team is back together with Ocean’s Eleven composer David Holmes, and it’s a match made in heaven. The music is unique in a way that always matches the mood, and adds emotion to every beautiful shot (did I mention this movie is gorgeous?)
It’s rare that I leave a movie feeling this level of hype. Maybe it’s too soon to say, but I’m confident this movie will be on my Best of 2025 list. While it’s likely to be forgotten by the Oscars due to its release date, it will not be forgotten by me. I recommend this wholeheartedly and without reservation, and I’m looking forward to watching it again.
