Black Bag (2025)

When intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse is suspected of betraying the nation, her husband - also a legendary agent - faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country.

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Main Cast

Michael Fassbender

Cate Blanchett

Rege-Jean Page

Main Crew

Directed by Steven Soderbergh

Written by David Koepp

Cinematography by Steven Soderbergh and Peter Andrews

Music by David Homes

Where to Watch

Only in Theatres

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It's no surprise that the best film of 2025 thus far comes from one of the best working directors in the business. For decades, Steven Soderbergh has been making films for film buffs. Films that defied everything the business stood for and everything that forced him into early "retirement" back in 2013. Mr. Soderbergh made real films, with real people, in real locations... films that felt real... even when they were about robbing casinos in Vegas!

With 'Black Bag' Soderbergh and his crew have incorporated the style of Soderbergh's late 90's/early 2000's films with a modern sensibility simply not present in most modern directors. It also helps when you have Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett at the height of their powers.

Fassbender has fallen into these roles in the last two years with 'The Killer', 'The Agency', and now 'Black Bag', where he plays a cool, calm, and collected character who uses the love of a partner as his driving force. He is extremely good in these roles. Fassbender is one of those actors that just exudes cool. With every step, the audience falls more for him and would follow him anywhere. And as George Woodhouse in 'Black Bag' he puts all the roles together to become a super-cool super-capable super-spy.

Throughout her career, Cate Blanchett has been an anomaly. From indie flicks to period pieces to studio films to blockbusters and back again. There aren't many actors who could pull off the diversity of roles as easily as she has. And not many actors are given the chance... nor should they. Blanchett defies the norm and that is what endears her to film fans. Her Hall of Fame would be huge. Add 'Black Bag' to the list. As Kathryn St. Jean, the partner of Fassbender's George, Blanchett is the alpha in their relationship and their job, as they are both working for an agency of sorts. Her confidence and her intelligence are unparalleled but it's her devotion to her partner that trumps all of it... and vice-versa.

Alone, these two characters bring a lot to the party, but it's together where they truly shine and the movie knows it. The dinner scene, the bedroom scenes, the office scenes... all of them... are a masterclass in chemistry and belief in their roles. This couldn't have worked with anyone else. Their elegance and charm and combined intelligence don't give anyone else a fighting chance. And that is freaking cool.

Which brings us to the story. 'Black Bag' is an espionage, thriller, comedy, drama about truth, plain and simple. The writing is clean in this film. Without it, scenes like the dinner scene wouldn't have been able to hold the viewers' attention long enough to make its point. The boat scene wouldn't have had me gripping my seat. The "reveal" wouldn't have been so satisfying. And that is that right there is why films need human writers.

Another standout is the up and coming Rege-Jean Page. The gravitas he commands on screen, especially AFTER the dinner scene, show he is a force to be reckoned with and has more than it takes to play James Bond... a role this shows he is more than ready for.

The music by David Holmes, a recurring member of Soderbergh's earlier works, fits this film like a glove. It's the 70's-inspired electronic music that comes in short bursts that punctuates the scenes where it is used. It is sprinkled with Out of Sight and Ocean's vibes and it couldn't be more welcome in this film.

This year has been a slow burn with releases, but if this is a harbinger of things to come, we are in for a treat!!