So much of Black Bag is not what it seems, even from its trailer. Unlike the likes of James Bond with lots of action and explosions, almost everything to do with this film is understated. There is some action to it, but overall, this is more of a whodunit; a psychological thriller. And unlike your average spy flick, Black Bag has an unusually short run time – just 94 minutes. Yet, the scenes are long and full of dialogue. Never boring, it will keep you guessing until the very shocking end.
The story is about relationships as much as it is about espionage. It revolves around married intelligence agents, George and Kathryn Woodhouse who work for the National Cyber Security Center in London. The two appear to be content with each other, but are they? Really?
George (Michael Fassbender) is stoic, saying every line without a hint of emotion. I don’t think he cracks a smile throughout the whole film.
Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) is slightly more playful. When her husband sneaks a peek while she is dressing, she says, “I can feel when you’re watching me.” He utters, “Sorry” and she replies, “I like it.”
Each will do anything for the other. But George has a dilemma. He is tasked with finding someone who is betraying the country. There is a suspected mole within the agency who has access to Severus, a mysterious yet destructive computer worm. And he isn’t given much time to find the culprit. Just one week. The suspects have been narrowed down to just six people. One of them is Kathryn.
George begins his search with a small dinner party at the Woodhouse home. He invites four co-workers and supposed friends to dinner. Why one would want to hang out with this bunch is itself a mystery. In addition to being a suspect, each has their own negative opinion about relationships.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a traitor to dinner,” says Kathryn before welcoming her guests into her home. “At least knowingly.”
The table is set, one dish has been laced with a truth-telling drug and George has a game to play. “I don’t like liars” he tells the group. This is just the starting point of a week full of discoveries about each of the diners.
Freddie Smalls (Tom Burke) is a tackles agent who was passed up for a promotion. His younger girlfriend, Clarissa (Marisa Abela) suspects that he has been cheating. Zoe Vaughan (Naomie Harris) is the staff psychiatrist who knows the dirt about her coworkers. Colonel James Stokes (Regé-Jean Page) is both her patient and boyfriend. No conflict of interest here.
Not in attendance at dinner is Arthur Steiglitz, the agency’s elder statesman with a large ego. He is played by former Bond actor, Pierce Brosnan.
Black Bag is directed by Steven Soderbergh working off a script written by David Koepp. His work includes scripts for Mission Impossible and Jurassic Park. The two have worked together on two other films – 2022’s Kimi and 2025’s Presence. Black Bag was smartly written from inspiration and interviews of real employees of the NCSC.
Although most of the action takes place indoors and in single rooms, the photography is beautifully shot. Beautiful people set around beautiful settings. All of them appearing to look relaxed even when taking a polygraph test.
And there is no literal black bag in the story. It’s a term used in the movie (not necessarily in real life) when one agent is unable (or unwilling) to share information with another agent.
“Where are you off to?” asks George.
“Black bag,” says Kathryn as she heads out the door.
Main Image: Focus Features
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