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.

The second movie from Steven Soderbergh to be released this year (after ‘Presence’) is a sleek spy thriller starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett as husband and wife spies who are given reason to doubt one another’s loyalties. Titled ‘Black Bag’, it follows George Woodhouse (Fassbender), a British intelligence officer who becomes aware of a mole in the department he works in, with suspicion falling on his wife Kathryn (Blanchett). Soderbergh is a master of these kinds of movies, and this is a really entertaining watch, helped by a slick 90-minute runtime that ensures no scene is wasted.

‘Black Bag’ begins with George being given one week to investigate the leak of a top-secret software program called Severus by his boss, Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgård). His suspicions fall on several other intelligence officers (including his wife), who he invites over for dinner with the aim of subtly gathering information that may lead him to the truth. This is a spy movie that plays out mostly through dialogue ahead of action, with questions of trust and loyalty on both a personal and professional level explored well in an environment where you are pretty much pre-programmed to distrust. To a certain degree, the intricacies of the plot are not important, as it’s all about the confidence in which the twists and turns are laid out, and with great confidence they are.

Fassbender and Blanchett are as good as ever, with an enjoyable supporting cast of Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris, Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page and a scenery chewing Pierce Brosnan making up the other potential moles. Cleverly plotted, well-acted and smartly directed, ‘Black Bag’ is a superior thriller from a director at the top of his game.

Rating: 4/5

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris, Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Gustaf Skarsgård and Pierce Brosnan

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3661210/