The Thin Man was a highly successful comedic mystery series that spanned movies, radio, television and the theater from the 1930s through the 1990s. The characters Nick and Nora Charles, first portrayed by legendary actors William Powell and Myrna Loy, displayed wit, charm, and romantic chemistry that made them beloved and allowed them to stand the test of time and ascend to permanent film lore. The latest film from Steven Soderbergh feels like a spiritual successor to the classic franchise.
Black Bag finds British intelligence agent George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) faced with an incredible conundrum when he is informed that one of the possible suspected traitors in an intelligence operation is his beloved wife and fellow spy Kathryn (Cate Blanchett). George must now balance finding the truth with adoring his wife.
As a mystery thriller, the puzzle at the center of the story is integral to the film working and Black Bag’s plot offers a question that is interesting to watch unfold throughout its tight hour and a half runtime. The portrayal of how spies operate and the tactics used are presented in a stylish, suave way that comes across as both stylistic and realistic simultaneously. There is less of an emphasis on gadgets as you’d expect in a spy film, particularly a British one, and more focus on the cunning and guile an international spy would possess in reading people, gathering intel, and using it to achieve their ends. George is presented as a cerebral spy, great at reading people and parsing information from them in a manner that doesn’t betray his aims. It gives not only the character a sense of cool, but the film itself as we follow alongside him as he attempts to unravel the mystery and pull what he can from those around him while they remain none the wiser. It’s an immersive, engrossing experience that makes tracking the mystery fun in a way that calls to mind the cunning of Nick Charles from the previously mentioned Thin Man franchise, just with the focus being the slick, wryness of a spy rather than comedic detective work.
Indeed, if the film has any major fault, it would be that it’s efficient length doesn’t provide enough time for the characters, particularly the supporting ones, to be additionally fleshed out and presented onscreen. More time being devoted to establishing all of their relationships and building more suspicion may have made the film even stronger, but the little time we do get with the characters and the story are well spent nonetheless. The dynamic between George and Kathryn provides a bit of a love story interwoven within the spy mystery as their devotion to one another bubbles just underneath the surface through George’s inner conflict while investigating and comes to the forefront in the film’s third act. It is here where the Nick and Nora Charles vibes really shine through and turn the fun of the film up to 11 and lead to Black Bag’s satisfying conclusion of its mystery.
Black Bag offers a stylish, suave spy thriller mystery that is smart and interesting to watch unfold with a cast that meshes well, led by Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett displaying undeniable chemistry throughout. The two get the chance to shine on their own as capable spies while also presenting a team dynamic that shows the potential for more stories in the future. Director Steven Soderbergh provides his trademark sleek cinematography as well with extreme closeups and dutch angles that imbue the film with intriguing visuals as well. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed that we see George and Kathryn working to unravel another mystery on our screens soon.
Image: Focus Features
