Reviewed By: Flickman
I’m always up for a good spy movie, and Black Bag definitely was no exception. I was expecting some action in this after watching the trailer, but it is virtually non-existent in this film. The only action you’ll really see is in the trailer. There’s one car explosion, and I think I counted a gun maybe three or four times the entire hour and a half. If there was more than a single gunshot fired, I must’ve missed it.
But honestly, that’s not what makes this movie good. What hooked me was how thought-provoking and twisty it is. It’s very much a “who-done-it,” the kind of mystery puzzle you’d find in Clue or a Knives Out film. If you like picking apart clues and second-guessing every character, you’ll probably enjoy this one. I might even rewatch it a couple times, because I’m sure I missed things. Partly because it takes place in the UK, so accents were flying at me left and right, and partly because I spent the first 20 minutes eating potato chips. Crunching and dialogue do not mix well.
The movie does start a bit slow, and for the first 20–30 minutes I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening. Maybe the chips were to blame, but even without them, it takes a bit to warm up. Once it does, though, it gets really engaging and keeps you guessing about who’s actually pulling the strings.
As for the plot: Black Bag follows George and Kathryn, played by Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett, a married couple working in UK intelligence. A sensitive program goes missing, gets sold, and could trigger a nuclear meltdown that would kill thousands. Someone inside the agency is responsible, and all signs point toward Kathryn. George is left trying to figure out whether his wife is to blame and will he stand with his wife or Country.
No spoilers here, but the whole film is extremely well put together. Some parts get confusing, so this isn’t a movie to watch when you’re half-asleep or distracted. Definitely avoid watching it after a night out of partying, and maybe pick a snack that doesn’t drown out the dialogue. Lesson learned.
Steven Soderbergh directed this, and I’ve always been a fan of his work – Ocean’s Eleven, Traffic, Contagion, and more. Paired with strong performances from Fassbender and Blanchett, it’s no surprise the movie has earned a bunch of award nominations.
Overall, if you’re in the mood for a smart, twisty spy thriller, I’d absolutely recommend Black Bag. Just be ready to pay attention from the start, and keep the crunchy snacks far away. If you’re looking for an action-packed spy flick, this won’t scratch that itch, but as a tense, clever mystery, it delivers.
Overall Verdict: It's a great spy thiller "who-dun-it" movie but if you want action, seek elsewhere. If you're not focused while watching, you'll probably be confused on what's going on.
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