Words over weapons in ‘Black Bag’

A meeting on Friday, a dinner party on Sunday, a murder on Monday, and a movie on Tuesday – this is the cycle of events that the characters in “Black Bag” face with a cold attitude. All of them work in different departments within British intelligence (probably MI6; it’s never made clear). The actions of a traitor initiate this cycle, and the unflappable George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) is tasked with snuffing them out.

On his list are the names of five suspects. There’s Freddie Smalls (Tom Burke), always confident in his skills despite just being passed over for a promotion by George; Clarissa Dubose (Marisa Abela), the youngest of the bunch who possesses much more skill than she lets on; James Stokes (Regé-Jean Page), the young colonel whose ascendancy at work is only matched by the height of his ego; Dr. Zoe Vaughan (Naomie Harris), the psychoanalysis who probably knows more everyone and everything than she should; and, most importantly of all, Kathryn St. Jean (Cate Blanchett), George’s wife and fellow spy.

One of these people stole some sort of device that could destroy a nuclear reactor from the inside, inevitably leading to the radioactive deaths of every man, woman, and child within 50 miles. 

Honestly, though, the world-ending stakes aren’t that important, especially once a generic Russian terrorist gets involved later on. What matters more to director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp is what George will do to the traitor once he finds them – and what kind of collateral damage the other four will endure before they’re exonerated.

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Everyone asks George if he’ll be able to pull the trigger if Kathryn turns out to be the culprit, a question he always leaves unanswered.

Making the traditionally important aspects of a story the least interesting thing about them is a common practice for Soderbergh. Whether he’s taking all the basketball out of his NBA movie “High Flying Bird,” focusing on business over dancing in the “Magic Mike” films, or swapping out horror for familial dysfunction in his haunted house movie “Presence,” these decisions could, should, and would disappoint those looking to be greeted by the familiar trappings of a genre. But Soderbergh is always one step ahead, using subversion to his – and our – benefit.

“Black Bag” illustrates that the greatest weapon in a spy’s arsenal is not a gun or some nifty gadget, but the ability to have an open conversation. But when you and everyone you know work in a profession that trades in deceit and lies, the truth becomes ungraspable. The titular phrase is famously used around the agency as an answer to any question that can’t or won’t be divulged. Where were you last night? “Black bag.” What did you do today at work? “Black bag.” How much longer do you think you’ll need to stay at the office tonight? “Black bag.”

George hates liars. His steely presence and precision in deciding whether to speak or remain silent allow every other character’s words to hang in the air just long enough to box themselves into a corner. Between this and “The Killer” and “The Agency,” Fassbender has clearly found his knack for playing the highly competent professional who finds himself flung in over his head. He plays the small moments with as much heft as the explosions, the retreatment keeping everything as tight as a piano wire.

The supporting cast gets to cut loose a little more, but mostly from the benefit of comparison. Soderbergh always knows how to make the mundane feel smoky cool, something that comes with ease when you have the megawatt presence of Cate Blanchett. Just the sight of her walking through an airport in sunglasses is enough to raise the temperature.

But, except for the opening long take that snakes George through an underground London club, Soderbergh never calls much attention to himself. The camerawork and editing (performed by himself under the famous pseudonyms Peter Andrews and Mary Ann Bernard, respectively) are ripped out of a surveillance system, blocking characters from each other in a playful game of back-and-forth.

Koepp and Soderbergh have collaborated twice before on “Kimi” and “Presence.” I hope this partnership continues indefinitely, as each product twists our expectations through practical and thematic strategies. Even when you strip away all the fancy artistry and subtextual analysis, you’re still left with something extremely entertaining.

Focus Features will release “Black Bag” in theaters nationwide on March 14.

Eden Prairie resident Hunter Friesen is a film critic who owns and operates The Cinema Dispatch, a website where he writes reviews, essays, and everything in between. He currently serves as the president of the Minnesota Film Critics Association and travels the globe covering film festivals both big and small. To view his entire body of work, you can visit his website and Instagram.