BLACK BAG – A Review by Jenn Rohm
It has been a long time since I was so fully pulled into a movie that I barely moved, didn’t check the time, and was a bit sad when it was over, as I didn’t want to leave the characters or story. Black Bag did just that for me.
George Woodhouse, Michael Fassbender, works for a government agency and is the best at getting the truth out of people. While it is widely known that using a polygraph is his strength, few know that playing games is his real strength. At the start of the film, he is given a new assignment to find a traitor in their organization, and one of the names to be investigated is Kathryn, Cate Blanchett, who happens to be his wife.
The chemistry between Fassbender and Blanchett simmers throughout the entire hour and thirty-three minutes of running time. At times, George’s character comes off as cold and calculating, yet when it is just the two of them, he is still deliberate with his words and movements, and the heat behind them cannot be missed. Kathryn is a confident woman; I wish more of us could be in the real world. She knows who she is, loves her husband deeply, knows he loves her deeply, all while being aware of what needs to be done and isn’t afraid to do it.
The opening scene was shot as if you were following George, trying to pick up possibly essential details, and not give in to possible distractions. I am sure this helped me with my becoming invested at the start. The witty banter and twists of the story kept me following along.
Within the organization, there did not appear to be any rules against fraternization; it felt more like it was encouraged. This allowed for additional characters with more than just surface-level storylines. It wasn’t just during required therapy sessions that we learned what drove others to make their choices. The selection of a strong cast that delivered quality performances will keep this one in my brain for a while.
I would appreciate having a better understanding of why a star filter was used during a dinner party scene with candles and later in the Woodhouse’s closet with bar lights. This created blind spots and the dull pressure of a headache.
I look forward to watching this film again and discovering things I missed during prior viewings. I also will not be eating fish for a bit.
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Gustaf Skarsgård, Cate Blanchett
MPAA Rating: Rated R for language including some sexual references and some violence.
Selig Rating: 5 stars
Runtime: 1h 33m
Release Date: March 14, 2025
Genre(s): Drama Thriller
Movie Site: Black Bag website
Trailer: Black Bag trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.
