And now…a film for adults.
Amidst the sequels, Super Hero Flicks, gratuitous violence and horror films, an original I.P. film with A-List stars, an interesting script and a good director has, somehow, snuck it’s way into our local Mega-plex.
And…BLACK BAG is well worth your time.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh (ERIN BROCKOVICH), BLACK BAG is based on an original script by David Koepp (the first Tom Cruise MISSION IMPOSSIBLE film) and tells the tale of a British Spy (Michael Fassbender) who must ferret out a traitor in their midst amongst 5 potential candidates - one of which is his wife (Cate Blanchett).
And not a shootout in site!
This might seem like a set-up similar to the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie shoot-em-up MR. & MRS. SMITH from 2005, but instead of resorting to violence the spies in this thriller do what they do best - they use their spy abilities to outthink/outwit and outplay their opponents.
What a refreshing change.
Soderbergh directs this whoddunit with professional ease, letting the pace of the scenes set the pace of this film - therefore, the movie moves along at a deliberate pace that makes the 1 hour and 33 minute film feel a little bit longer.
But, that’s not (necessarily) a bad thing.
That is because this film has 2x Oscar Nominee Fassbender and 2x Oscar Winner Blanchett as it’s 2 leads - and one could watch these 2 play spy games against each other all day. The only down side is that, by plotline necessity, these 2 spend most of their time away from each other, so when they are together, the screen crackles with tension/excitement. It would have been fun to have these 2 confront each other mid-way through the film (a la the DeNiro/Pacino Diner Scene in HEAT), but Soderbergh is a smarter director than that and, wisely, avoids the temptation to do this to keep the rhythm of the mystery story going.
Fassbender and Blanchett are joined by Tom Burke (MANK), Marisa Abela (BARBIE), Rege-Jean Page (BRIDGERTON) and Naomi Harris (MOONLIGHT) as the other suspects/allies and since these 4 need to go toe-to-toe with Fassbender and/or Blanchett, their performances are as good as I’ve seen from any of them thus far.
Oh, and did I mention Pierce Brosnan (you know, REMINGTON STEELE and a film icon named JAMES BOND) as the boss of all of them. This is an actor who has become more and more interesting the older he gets and this role gives him a chance to chew the scenery and be VERY interesting with the best of them. If the new producers of the next James Bond series doesn’t consider making Brosnan the new “M”, then they have missed an ideal opportunity.
Screenwriter Koepp has constructed an interesting - and grounded - whoddunit/thriller that gives all of the actors some choice scenes/speeches that are delivered under the careful, trusted vision of Soderbergh which equates to a very satisfying time in the movie theater.
Letter Grade: A- (it does move at a rather languid pace)
8 stars (out of 10) and you can take yhis to the Bank(ofMarquis)
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