Directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by David Koepp, Black Bag is a spy thriller starring Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, and Pierce Brosnan. Black Bag has already received critical acclaim and is now showing in cinemas worldwide.

George Woodhouse and Kathryn St. Jean are a happily married couple and are both intelligence agents. Even though they work for the same agency, there are still some secrets they have to keep from each other and ‘black bag’ is a term they use when they can’t talk about certain things.

Even with secrets between them, they never let it affect their relationship. Things become complicated when George receives intel that his wife is suspected of committing treason. He faces his toughest investigation yet, not only having to stay under the radar of his agency while spying on his wife and fellow agent but also his faithfulness to his marriage or loyalty to his country.

The film centres around George Woodhouse, played by Michael Fassbender. Even though he barely shows any emotion on his face, he can still convey it through his body language. Even his most subtle movements and how he looks at things can show what’s on his mind.

Clearly, he cares about Kathryn while being conflicted about her possibly being a criminal. Everything Fassbender does on screen is done so meticulously well that audiences will be engaged to see what he does next.

Cate Blanchett stars as Kathryn St. Jean, the wife and fellow agent to George. She and Fassbender have excellent on-screen chemistry together, whether they’re being intimate, having normal conversations or when he is trying to get some clues and answers out of her without exposing himself.

Because of her experience as an agent, she always plays it cool, making her a difficult challenge for George, and audiences will constantly be guessing whether she is actually guilty.

Pierce Brosnan portrays Arthur Steiglitz, the head of the agency. Brosnan is best known for his tenure as James Bond, so he is no stranger to spy films. He may have a smaller role, but the scenes he does have allow him to have an intimidating presence on screen. As James Bond, he was smooth and charming, but as Arthur Steiglitz, he takes his job very seriously and is not to be messed with.

The film also stars Marisa Abela as Clarissa Dubose, Tom Burke as Freddie Smalls, Naomie Harris as Dr. Zoe Vaughan, Regé-Jean Page as Colonel James Stokes, and Gustaf Skarsgård as Meacham. Without giving any plot points away, they all play important roles and have their places in the overall story. Their performances will also keep audiences guessing if they’re possibly involved in the mystery.

Black Bag, unlike most modern spy films, takes a more realistic approach. Rather than having action scenes and fancy gadgets, it focuses more on the characters’ dialogues and interactions with each other. Those expecting to see an action flick will likely be disappointed, as there isn’t a single action scene or a chase sequence.

It might sound boring, but the entire cast’s performances will keep audiences engaged. The story has layers upon layers, and its plot twists make it hard to predict the outcome, even with a small cast.

The movie takes place in London, which provides some beautiful locations and set pieces. The inside of the agency mostly looks like the offices of a big corporation with computers everywhere, a big meeting room and some other rooms with only certain staff having access.

Being on a high level in a tall building, some rooms have nice city views in the background, fitting for a company full of intelligence agents. It never feels like the movie stays in one place for too long, so it doesn’t feel repetitive. Overall, the look and feel of the movie is something you would see in normal everyday life, giving that sense of realism.

Spy films in recent years seem to lean more into action than actually being a proper spy film, which feels like it’s becoming a lost art. It’s refreshing to see a modern spy film focus on staying within that genre and not stray from it. Without exciting action scenes, it allows all the other aspects to

shine more, which are all done fantastically, thanks to an incredibly talented cast and brilliantly written story. It may lack action, but it more than makes up for it in big ways. Michael Fassbender is meticulous in everything he does, Cate Blanchett will keep you on your toes, Pierce Brosnan has an intimidating presence on screen, and everyone else has their place in the overall story. Black Bag is a spy thriller that you shouldn’t let sneak by.

Written by: Sammy Hanson