Woodhouse’s dinner parties can be awkward, but when you are invited, you must attend. Tonight’s guest list was made up by Meacham, his superior, who has deduced the code for an extremely destructive weaponized virus has been compromised. There are only five suspects, including his wife.
Freddie Smalls, is a senior MI6 agent, who was considered Woodhouse’s protégé, until he passed him over for a promotion. Col. James Stokes, is the fast-tracked hotshot agent, whom Smalls lost out to. Clarissa Dubose, the satellite imagery technician, has been conducting a not-so-secret relationship with Smalls. Dr. Zoe Vaughan serves as MI6’s staff psychiatrist, who counsels all five suspects, including St. Jean, rather they like it or not (and she clearly does not). She also recently terminated her romantic relationship with Stokes.
It will be a super fun dinner party, because several guests reveal very embarrassing secrets. However, it is not immediately evident who transfered the so-called Severus Virus to a dangerous foreign element. It is not an ideal time for St. Jean to leave. She cannot explain either, simply invoking the term “black bag,” which agents use as shorthand for “I can’t tell you, because its top secret business.”
David Koepp’s original screenplay rather cleverly devises ways to bring the loyalties of the various couples into conflict with their professional and national allegiances. Eventually, the big picture also involves Russia, but not in the way Putin-hawks might expect or hope. However, one character’s Roman Catholic faith will play an edifying role, in the complicated intrigue.
In fact, Koepp’s machinations are just complicated enough to maintain suspense and uncertainty, but everything is sufficiently illuminated so that the ending makes sense and provides closure. Black Bag is intelligent, but not too smart for its own good. It also wraps everything up, more or less, in about ninety minutes, which represents remarkably skillful and economically story-telling in this age of narrative bloat.
Arguably, Black Bag earns the further distinction as Soderbergh’s most stylish film since Out of Sight. The vibe is slick, but sophisticated. David Holmes’ score (featuring Brian Irvine on keyboards) appropriately noirish, but also jazzy and snappy, in a complimentary way. It really adds a lot to the film’s identity.
Plus, Michael Fassbender’s wardrobe was clearly inspired by 1960s Michael Caine films, which is cool. You can tell Fassbender totally fed off that vibe. His performance is quietly reserved and cerebral, but absolutely magnetic.
The four suspect-guests are also terrific, in very different ways. Tom Burke (who more viewers ought to know from The Lazarus Project) puts on a show on his own as the shlubby, self-destructive Smalls. Naomie Harris does some great verbal sparring as Dr. Vaughan, the shrink nobody wants to confide in. Marisa Abela is a destabilizing force as Dubose, while Rege-Jean Page matches Fassbender’s ability to project calculating intelligence.
Regardless, Soderbergh finds the right balance, maintaining the intrigue, but never making viewers feel they have been played. Altogether, it is a worthy successor to the classic British spy movies that it drolly pays tribute to. Very highly recommended, Black Bag is now available on VOD and it is still screening at the AMC Lincoln Square.