Review 744: Black Bag

When his wife, intelligence agent Kathryn St. Jean (Cate Blanchett), is suspected of committing treason, her husband, intelligence agent George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) is assigned to investigate her. He faces the ultimate test - faithfulness to his marriage or loyalty to his country.

Opening with a beautiful tracking shot following Michael Fassbender's George from behind as he enters an England bar to meet his contact Meachum (Gustaf Skarsgard), Black Bag

The film features tones of gorgeous lighting to frame  and give so much texture to the locations. Warm colours are used at night and when we are at George & Jean's house whilst more muted and sterile colours are used for daytime scenes particularly for scenes at the Agency.  all set to a wonderfully jazzy  score by Soderbergh's regular composer David Holmes. The production design is splendid, George & Jean's house's is so idyllic  this contrasts beautifully with scrupulously high tech work

It wouldn't be a Steven Soderbergh film without an ensamble cast and Michael Fassbender, Cate Blenchett, Naomie Harris & Pierce "James Bond" Brosnan. In supporting roles are actors who audiences will recognise for their roles on  for those who know their TV: Tom Burke from BBC's Strike, Marisa Abela from BBC/HBO's Industry, Rege-Jean Page from Brigerton and Gustaf Skarsgard from Vikings and Westworld. This

Pierce Brosnan isn't in the film that much but whenever he is 

Marisa Abela plays her like an alternate version of Yasmin from Industry. 

Much like Soderbergh's Ocean's 12 in 2004, Black Bag is about behaviour, style and cat-and-mouse games. I thought it was actually kind of fun.