Putting the “cool” into a big screen offering – and actually having it turn out to be cool – is often easier said than done. Attempts at accomplishing this feat in many instances turn out to be hokey, trite or mishandled, so it’s gratifying to see a filmmaker pull it off successfully. Such is the case in the latest work from director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp, an expertly structured, superbly executed spy thriller masterfully laced with suspense, wit, charm, class and a d...
There’s quite a bit of the John le Carré to this story of duplicity in the intelligence community. “George” (Michael Fassbender) is married to “Kathryn” (Cate Blanchett) and despite the fact that they spend much of their lives keeping secrets from one another (those are the “black bag” conversations that they can’t have) their marriage is really quite strong - much to the envy of many of their colleagues. It’s a dinner with a few of them at their home that starts the cat amongst the pigeons a...
'Black Bag' is a very good spy thriller! It is a slowburn sorta film and is dialogue heavy, but neither of those things are negatives as long as it delivers - which this 2025 release certainly does. The cast are terrific, most notably Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett.
Marisa Abela, Regé-Jean Page, Tom Burke and Naomie Harris are great in their respective parts too. The story kept me interested all the way through, I wouldn't say it's paced to perfection as...
Steven Soderbergh’s “Black Bag” isn’t your typical espionage thriller, but more of a slow-burn character study wrapped in a sleek, stylish spy drama. While it’s well-made and filled with strong performances, it’s also a bit too talky and deliberately paced to be truly gripping. If you’re expecting high-octane action or pulse-pounding twists, you won’t find them here. Instead, Soderbergh delivers a measured, adult-oriented drama that prioritizes emotional depth over spectacle.
The film ...
I was hopeful about this movie given the cast and subject matter. But what looks like a spy thriller with some drama baked in was just that, only it was too arrogant, the dialogue too quippy, and it tried to hammer home that it was smarter than you for the entire movie.
Fassbender played a stiff version of a bureaucratic spy and held his world hostage with his intelligence. But the dialogue, convoluted plot, and lack of any stakes just left this movie flat.
I was thoroughl...
Mauviel was recently featured in Last of Us S02. I kind of want to buy a pan. I'd rather buy a different brand, honestly. Isaac's speach came off forced. Back to the Future 2 did it right.
This is no Back to the Future 2.
They're just a group of friends arguing about Severance. Gun lady is cool. Brosnan sucks. He sucks in Mobland, too. Advertising in the reviews now. Waste of space.