Black Bag – Film Review
by Brian Merriman

Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Written by David Koepp
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan.

I was ‘white bagged’ at Black Bag! As I went to review this movie, I was asked to hand over my phone. The burly ‘security’ man insisted on putting it in a sealed white bag for the duration of my enjoyment of this classy preview. I held onto the white bag, in case I needed to call for help urgently!

As you would expect, Black Bag’s settings are glamorous, money is no problem, the enemies suitably sinister and the betrayal sizzling throughout. The main characters are well-studied, eccentric, ruthless, extreme and well-groomed. The level of mistrust, intrigue and scheming in David Keopp’s innovative screenplay was hugely engaging. Three ambitious work ‘couples’ manipulate each other, other countries and other colleagues, all just to climb the corporate ladder, rather than the patriotic goal of protecting the nation’s security above all.

Once again, Irish actors Fassbender and Brosnan are cast well to play the quintessential British operators. Back Bag is full of delicious twists, deep thinking, double cross and yet has a freshness that illuminates this latest screen tale of espionage and intrigue.

Michael Fassbender (an intense George) teams up with Cate Blanchett (an expert and ambitious Kathryn) as a deeply committed mature married couple, both on the Secret Service payroll. They are ace operators. Their sustained personal relationship is their main mission, in contrast with the others who work with them.

Brigerton’s Regé-Jean Page is equally as mysterious and secretive in this latest role, perhaps a stepping stone to the next 007?  His intense relationship with counsellor Naomie Harris (Dr Zoe) for a while has ruthless consequences. Add into this dinner party, the other connected colleagues – an addicted Tom Burke (Freddie) and a never to be underestimated Marisa Abela (Clarissa) and you have menus and party games that rely on anything but the food to sustain the evening. Pulling many of their strings as the chief puppetmaster is a suave Pierce Brosnan as Arthur and they all have their eyes on his senior job.  His eyes are everywhere!

The spies all knowingly become the fodder of multi-layered plots involving the flawed and the crooked. But how many plots are they in concurrently? The planted clues, the surveillance, the ruthless demolition of careers, and advanced intrusive spy technology are all at the forefront as we tease out just who, if any, are trustworthy and who might survive?

The fold-over editing at the beginning signals a tight telling of a well-edited plot under Soderbergh’s clear direction.  I would happily have stayed in their company a lot longer as the 93 minutes flew by, except I needed to be allowed out to open my white bag, so I could recommend you spend your movie euros wisely by adding Black Bag to your go-see list!

Despite the surveillance (they probably knew what I would write before I did) – it was a treat, a quality production of a new intriguing spy tale.  In the meantime, unlike all the characters, I had a lucky escape!