Black Bag

Cate Blanchette and Michael Fassbender play endlessly stylish spies married to one another as tightly as they are married to their work. But when he is tasked with finding a leak in the agency — and she is fingered as the prime suspect — things get very twisty indeed. Director Steven Soderbergh keeps the film to a razor-sharp 93 minutes, while still finding time for intrigue, action, a little psychological thriller, dry humor, and romance. It’s a masterpiece of direction, with two absolutely dynamite actors in the leads, and a host of stars filling out the roles, led by Pierce Brosnan and Rege-Jean Page. Think of it as a mature, cerebral version of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, with a 97% Tomatometer.

“Soderbergh and company have given us a remarkably fun riff on international intrigue. They also slip in a wonderfully intimate portrait of a couple who turn each other on as much as the movie turns you on. See it with someone you love.” -David Fear, Rolling Stone
“Although Soderbergh’s approach has an artfulness to it; he’s telling a sweeping story while keeping the excitement mostly confined. The result, while self-contained, is gripping, quietly sexy, and robustly acted.” -David Sims, The Atlantic
“As intensely high stakes as the Severus mystery is, Black Bag is so ambitiously constructed that it works equally well as an achingly romantic love story.” -Jared Rasic, Metro Times
“The mystery builds to a wildly perverse yet suitably sincere conclusion that knocked my socks off. However, to say more than that would spoil all of the fun.” -Sarah Michelle Fetters, MovieFreak.com
“Cerebral rather than action-packed, it’s like a classic le Carré (or, with its Harry Palmer allusions, Len Deighton) thriller, brought bang up to date with stylish direction, outrageously thirsty acting, and some bone-dry wit.” -Philip De Semlyen, Time Out
“a delightful romantic spy drama that cannot be missed.” Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service
“Taut yet thoroughly laced with levity, Black Bag plays like the filmic equivalent of a skillfully executed espionage mission in how tight and exact it feels.” -Carlos Aguilar, The Playlist
“A svelte piece of entertainment that feels like a vintage yarn yet very much represents our own current anxieties, questions of sustaining trust in relationships and high-stake careers.” -Monica Castillo, RogerEbert.com
“Endlessly entertaining, Black Bag is a masterclass in sleek, sexy, and intelligent filmmaking. With razor-sharp dialogue, visually stunning compositions, and a cast delivering powerhouse performances, Soderbergh crafts a film that demands to be seen.” -Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
“Human weakness is ‘Black Bag’s’ greatest strength. It’s an insidiously great spy movie, mature and satisfying.” -William Bibbiani, TheWrap
“Black Bag is pure movie magic, a flaming Cherries Jubilee that you can’t get enough of.” -Randy Myers, San Jose Mercury-News

Black Bag will probably open at The Clyde on Friday, April 11, and play Friday, Saturday, Sunday, & Monday at 7:30.