Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett head a starry cast to match the luxurious production design, but the director’s espionage yarn could do with some gritIn a world built on deception, populated by people who can lie as easily as breathe, strait-laced British intelligence agent George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) values the truth above all else. Which is probably why he’s given the task of unmasking a traitor suspected of stealing and selling a piece of potentially devastating technology. What complicates matters is the fact that one of the main suspects is his wife, high-ranking fellow agent Kathryn (Cate Blanchett). Others in the frame include in-house psychiatrist Dr Zoe Vaughan (Naomie Harris), alcoholic maverick Freddie Smalls (Tom Burke) and junior agent Clarissa Dubose (Marisa Abela).This knotty spy thriller from Steven Soderbergh attempts to distract us from a convoluted plot and baffling character motivations with fabulously chic interiors, impeccable tailoring and a ge...
Steven Soderbergh's spy thriller "Black Bag," starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett, prioritizes luxurious production design over gritty realism and a satisfying plot. The film follows a British intelligence agent investigating a traitor, with his wife among the suspects. Despite a talented cast and stylish presentation, the film's convoluted plot, baffling character motivations, and superficiality ultimately fail to resonate with audiences accustomed to more authentic espionage narratives like "Slow Horses."