When intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse is suspected of betraying the nation, her husband – also a legendary agent – faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country.

Review

It’s a shame that movies like this are so hard to come by in theaters these days, a smart, adult thriller that is less about gun play and car chases than it is about intelligence and psychology. Married British intelligence officers Kathryn and George (Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, with chemistry for days) are part of a sextet of agents (Marisa Abela, Rege-Jean Page, Naomi Harris, Tom Burke) with a variety of interpersonal dynamics, romantically and career wise, one of whom is a bad guy, all of whom have questionable motives, actions and ethics.

A taut, tightly-paced story of spy vs. spy vs. spy vs. spy vs. spy vs. spy, Black Bag is a strongly engaging, sexy, dark and mysterious tale, that is bookended with awkward dinner parties. It’s fun, if slight, but a great time in the theater. Director Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Traffic, Logan Lucky, The Informant!) knows how to balance small character moments with a twisty story and Black Bag captures both those sentiments perfectly.

Jonathan’s grade – B