‘Black Bag’ makes for a great spy flick although the way-posh accents occasionally convolute the storyline

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the enigmatically titled Black Bag marks a triumphant return to the director’s wheelhouse of weaving intricate thrillers. As with the Oceans series before it, Soderbergh lends his trademark style with a compelling narrative and impressive performances from his hand-picked cast.

The film stars Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender as amicable husband-and-wife team and intelligence agents Kathryn St. Jean and George Woodhouse, who run a small and tight operation in which they and four operatives working under them appear to know everything about each other. Or do they?

When Kathryn is suspected of committing treason, co-spy and husband George is assigned to investigate her, hence faces the ultimate test – faithfulness to his marriage or loyalty to his country.

Set in London, the film has a definitive spy vs spy aspect to it, reminiscent of Bond films past and recent.

Speaking of Bond, the film also stars Pierce Brosnan as the head of the spy agency, Arthur Steiglitz. Somehow, though, Kathryn has a certain hold and control over Brosnan’s boss character – which, while proving an interesting feminist point, kind of makes you wonder how such insubordination can exist in the intelligence heirarchy.

The firm’s target is a high-tech, government-run facility storing encrypted intelligence that could destabilise global security. As our spies become more embroiled in their mission to control the intel, the lines between allies and enemies begin to blur. Each character’s motivation comes into question, and the psychological weight of their decisions adds a layer of depth, without which would have made this an otherwise straightforward caper.

The film’s exploration of loyalty, power and morality makes it more than just a typical action thriller. Soderbergh’s sharp direction ensures that ‘Black Bag’ never devolves into cliché, keeping the audience on edge with unexpected twists and an unsettling atmosphere.

The only negative point I found with this film was in some of the dialogue, which was lost on me due to too many ‘plum in the mouth’ posh British accents saying quite a lot. In fact, if one or two of the characters had possessed more of a street accent, a la, say, a Guy Ritchie movie, I’d probably have followed the plot effortlessly and even more enjoyably.

As for Blanchett’s diction, this, as ever, is spot-on and always audible. And what does this woman do to make her stay so fantastically fit? I couldn’t fault Cate in this flick and now forgive her for all that was Tar.

Antonino Tati

‘Black Bag’ is in cinemas now.