Director: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett and Naomie Harris
‘A Spectacular Spy Masterpiece’
Not many actresses in Hollywood have made movies which audiences cherish like Naomie Harris. Ever since her rise to fame during the 1990’s, Harris has made memorable movies. Whether it’s grieving mothers, spy managers or political leaders, Harris has portrayed many strong characters. Arguably, Harris’ greatest strength as an actress has commonly been her powerful screen presence. She is one of those rare actresses that has often had an aptitude for stealing the show in supporting roles which have limited screen-time. Even when she has limited screen-time in a film, Harris has always left a strong impression. Through her abilities to portray strong characters which audiences can easily relate to, Harris has become a bold actress that people value. An actress that has achieved worldwide success, Harris has never lost her ability to impress. Throughout a strong career, Harris has created several memorable movies which are definitely worth talking about without a doubt.
Now, Harris is back on the big-screen and her strengths as an actress are clearly evident in her latest film “Black Bag”. Released in 2025, Steven Soderbergh’s movie captures the lives of spies facing tragedy. Packed with powerful production design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies of the year. At the centre of it all is an excellent performance by Naomie Harris, who embodies a conflicted spy which faces tragedy. Although “Black Bag” is a captivating spy thriller, it isn’t a flawless film. It’s unevenly paced, building to an ambiguous conclusion without a satisfying resolution. Nevertheless, it offers exhilarating entertainment that fans of commemoraetd espionage thrillers won’t resist.
“Black Bag” tells the story of a spy couple that engages in infidelity causing tragedy. Michael Fassbender portrays George Woodhouse, an intense spy stuck in a broken marriage facing disaster. George has always shared a complex bond with wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett). While they have always gotten along well together, George has suspected Kathryn of engaging in crime causing disaster. However, George’s life forever changes when his wife is suspected of betraying her nation causing disaster. Tasked with investigating his wife as a spy, George is forced to question his place in a tense career. Accompanied by his personal assistant Dr. Zoe Vaughn (Naomie Harris), George seeks to find truth about his wife. As he discovers shocking secrets of Kathryn, George starts to question whether it’s possible for him to gain success in a profession seeking a win.
Stephen Soderbergh is fascinated with lives of spies. A fantastic filmmaker, Soderbergh has often made engaging movies about spies that face disaster. His iconic film “Ocean’s Eleven” captured the lives of spies that rob a casino. With “Black Bag”, however, the director made his first espionage thriller. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the lives of spies that face tragedy but he succeeded tremendously. Through strong cinematography, Soderbergh captures the lives of spies engaging in a life of crime with tragedy. Taking inspiration in Martin Campbell’s “Casino Royale”, Soderbergh uses low key lighting to capture lives of spies which face adversities. For instance, low key lighting enhances the dinner guest scene. During this unforgettable scene, George and Kathryn have a dinner party inviting guests. Through low key lighting, Soderbergh captures tensions which spies are facing. Low-key lighting is a complex technique to use in movies. As David Fincher’s “Se7en” suggested, low-key lighting enhances films about detectives. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through captivating visuals, Soderbergh captures tensions that spies on a mission are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Black Bag” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s the most impressive spy film you will ever see. Soderbergh expertly uses costumes to capture the tensions faced by couples in the spy profession. Throughout the movie, Soderbergh employs costumes to capture the tensions endured by a spy couple. For instance, costumes enhance the infidelity scene. During this memorable scene, George confronts Clarissa about infidelity in a doomed marriage that faces tragedy. One appreciates costumes capturing tensions faced by couples in broken marriages. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. David Holmes’ music is key to the success of the film. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing heavy Batman. Using stunning production design, Soderbergh captures the live spies on a mission that face tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Black Bag” is an espionage movie which is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture lives of spies facing disturbance. Throughout the film, Soderbergh uses silence to capture the lives of spies that face tension. For instance, silence elevates the argument scene. During this tense scene, George has a bad argument with Kathryn attracting attention of their friends. Through sequences of silence, Soderbergh creates a spy character that audiences can easily relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” suggested, silence enhances blockbusters about the LGBT movies. However; it works immensely in the movie. Through a superb screenplay, Steven Soderbergh captures the lives spies facing a price pay.
One appreciates amazing performance.
Naomie Harris delivers one of her best career performance. Harris first earned appreciation for playing women in adventure dramas. With “Black Bag”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a female spy facing tragedy but she succeeded. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her in the past before; intense, charismatic and bold in her most memorable role. With captivating expressions, Harris captures the angst, grief and depression of a spy facing tension. It’s an incredible performance from one of the finest actresses today.
While the film mainly is a stunning showcase for Naomie Harris, the supporting cast is also excellent and worthy of appreciation. Michael Fassbender is fantastic, capturing charismatic nature of a spy which is involved in a doomed marriage that faces disaster. Cate Blanchett is brilliant, capturing the regret of a female spy which becomes involved in a broken marriage leaving her upset. Last, Pierce Brosnan merits appreciation. As a spy manager, he brings an air of mystery to the movie.
Finally, “Black Bag” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing spies facing tensions. Unlike most spy movies, the movie discusses strong themes that everyone will relate to. It discusses strong theme including identity, trust and marriage which would resonate amongst everyone. It delivers a meaningful message on the dangers of spies that would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Black Bag” is one of rare rare commemorated movies everyone would adore.
Although “Black Bag” is a captivating crime thriller, it isn’t a flawless film. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks engaging pacing. Soderbergh’s decisions to focus on the lives of multiple couples in the commemorated espionage profession without a clear focus is bold but hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty decision, scenes capturing Freddie’s broken marriage aren’t as engaging as George’s journey to discover his spy identity. Therefore, “Black Bag” can’t quite capture hardships that commemorated espionage agents go through.
Nevertheless, fans of Naomie Harris will definitely recognize Black Bag and so will movie-goers that seek exhilarating entertainments. A captivating film about spies, it honours an actress that hasn’t lost abilities to surprise.
A spectacular portrait of extra-martial affairs causing the lives of spies to deteriorate, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated British actress that has built a lasting legacy manufacturing memorable movies tackling strong themes which are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating that have never lost abilities to captivate.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 