Writer/director Steven Soderbergh already delivered an absolute banger this year with his uniquely-crafted ghost story Presence. However, it seems like one must-watch film wasn’t enough as he and writer David Koepp re-team for Black Bag, a tantalizing spy thriller with some seriously twisty turns.
Black Bag immediately hooks the audience into its thrills as Soderbergh and Koepp get right down to business. Right from the first scene, you’re ensnared in the tricky mission of British Intelligence officer George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender), who is tasked with discovering a leak in their ranks. Unfortunately, the list of suspects contains close allies – including his wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) – which causes a conflict of interest.
Fassbender’s screen presence instantly instills a palpable intensity that wraps itself around you. The mission gets cooking quick as everyone is brought together for an introductory dinner full of ulterior motives that sets the tone perfectly. And, oh my gosh, the music from David Holmes is freaking amazing. It’s got jazzy, neo-noir vibes that are amazing to hear, and it’s remarkably adaptive to the settings and situations the film takes viewers through. Black Bag easily has one of the best scores for a Soderbergh film, and maybe one of the best of the year so far.
Soderbergh and Koepp further build on the film’s stellar opening moments by leaning into their strengths – highly engaging dialogue and deep character writing. It’s super compelling to see George dive down the rabbit hole of the secrets, lies, and fraught relationships that surround him. Each conversation between characters exposes their true inner thoughts in stunning ways, and the stakes constantly raise as George sticks his neck out further and further to figure out who the mole is. Soderbergh and Koepp go to great lengths to toy with viewers, and it makes you totally unsure of where things are heading. You’re constantly puzzled as to who could possibly be involved, especially when it comes to Kathryn, and it culminates in a multi-layered mystery full of riveting, juicy deception. Frankly, things get so messy that you’re even keeping your eye on George since, like most of Fassbender’s movies, an unsuspecting villain turn always feels on the table.
Admittedly though, there are some issues that rear their head. For instance, the dialogue can veer into too much technical territory that can be tough to follow. When characters delve into the psychological parts of their job or talk about this program called Severus (the centerpiece to this rat problem) it’s so “inside baseball” that you can be left on the outs. It’s something that definitely hurts the film’s ability to remain engaging, and it can cause certain strings of dialogue to drag. Some scenes, in general, can last a little too long and affect the pacing of a fairly tight thriller from Sodebergh.
However, these flaws tend to fade behind these incredible performances. Right from their first dinner together, this ensemble emphasizes the fractures in their relationships and personalities perfectly. Despite how close everyone seems and how dedicated they are to their work, there’s never anyone who seems fully trustworthy and an enticing power struggle ensues. Rege-Jean Page exudes the ego and power-hungry nature of James excellently to create some spicy exchanges. Marisa Abella excels as shady imagery specialist Clarissa – someone you never quite have your finger on but can’t move it away from.
Yet, Black Bag is a pure showcase for Fassbender and Blanchett. For the most part, they act as opposites with Fassbender being a calculated, trusting force while Blanchett plays up Kathryn’s femme fatale vibes to constantly keep you guessing. Together though, the romantic and suspicious tension between them absolutely sizzles, and their performances evolve through their characters’ mesmerizing arc that boils to a head in the film’s jaw-dropping final stretch.
Frankly, Soderbergh and Koepp cook a final stretch that hits on all fronts. The explosive moments of action are incredibly impactful because of the patience displayed in building tension. The discoveries viewers make are immensely fulfilling because of the full-circle turn things take. Even the overarching themes of trust and love really come through as these characters face the ugly truth about themselves, which also makes for an interesting depiction of business and pleasure mixing in the workplace.
The final moments between George and Kathyrn are simply to die for. Not only do you grow to love their devotion to each other amongst all the secrecy, but you also respect their captivating, cunning nature. It all culminates in a conclusion that’s so slick and fitting to their dynamic that you’ll be grinning ear to ear by their casual coolness.
Presence was already a strong showing for Soderbergh in 2025, but he somehow manages to top his efforts with Black Bag. The sleekness of its style, characters, and storytelling will genuinely leave viewers entranced by the never-ending thrills of its mystery, and ultimately produces one of the best films of the year thus far. It’s an absolute crowd-pleaser and continues to raise Soderbergh’s stock as a filmmaker.
