Steven Soderbergh is a prolific filmmaker and he’s also a talented jack of all trades, one of those rare directors who’ve done cinematography, writing, editing, etc. I have to admit I haven’t always kept up with his work; the last film I saw that he directed was The Laundromat in 2019.

Now, I’ve been anticipating Black Bag for some time, as spy movies are my bag (pun intended). Having grown up watching Bond films, I enjoy the action-packed spy thrillers. Yet there’s something so riveting about the minimalist, more talky approach that Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp crafted here, reminiscent of John le Carré’s work. Even the main male protagonist might’ve been named after George Smiley.

The phrase used in the title refers to something that’s highly confidential, indicating that the operation or information is so secret that the speaker can’t share any further details. The story revolves around a group of spies working for the same intelligence agency, Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in London. The film starts with George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender), who gets a tip from fellow agent Philip Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgård) that there’s a traitor amongst them. Five people are suspected of treason, and one of them is George’s wife and colleague, Kate (Cate Blanchett). Naturally, George finds himself in a tough spot, torn between his loyalty to his marriage and his duty to his nation.

Right from the start, Black Bag looks slick and stylish; it’s as if the homes they live in could be featured in Architectural Digest and the agents wore clothes straight out of GQ or Vogue photoshoots. Not every secret agent works in the field; some work in a cutting-edge, modern office and they have some leisure time to cook, go fishing in the lake, or even go to the movies. George and Kate are the quintessential ‘it couple’ who seem to adore each other, judging by their sexy repartee and the way George watches her getting dressed and undressed.

It’s fun seeing Blanchett lean in on her feminine wiles and turn on her sex appeal. Her Kate isn’t quite a femme fatale like her character in Nightmare Alley, but she’s definitely got that ‘girl boss’ demeanor down pat, with an enviable wardrobe, no less. Meanwhile, Fassbender has perfected his icy menace vibe–his George is taciturn with a reserved intensity. The two share a scorching chemistry together, and it’s quite rare to see a movie that portrays a healthy marriage between two very attractive people. Even their friends are amazed as well as baffled by their committed marriage, considering infidelity is a trick of the trade in the espionage world.

It’s smart and refreshing how Koepp flips the script by showcasing the fallout from those who see loyalty and honesty as traits to be shunned, but it doesn’t come off as sanctimonious. In fact, the lie detector scene is both clever and downright funny. There are some captivating ‘spycraft’ aspects in this, but Soderbergh doesn’t rely on flashy gadgets or death-defying stunts you often see in big spy franchises in order to build tension.

The dinner parties at the Woodhouses’s swanky townhouse are quite revelatory as each character divulges the nature of their work. At times, the revelations are quite personal that it rattles every single person sitting around the table. The characters are all linked in some way, similar to the dynamics in the Friends series. An ambitious career-climber, James Stokes (Regé-Jean Page) is involved with the agency’s therapist, Dr. Zoe Vaughan (Naomie Harris). Meanwhile, the charming philanderer, Freddie Smalls (Tom Burke), is in a relationship with tech whiz Clarissa Dubose (Marisa Abela).

Soderbergh’s films have often been ensemble pieces, notably his Ocean’s movies, as well as his action-packed thriller Haywire, which also starred Fassbender. He sure knows how to make the most of his impressive ensemble. While Blanchett and Fassbender are the highlights, the entire cast is fantastic. I always enjoy seeing Tom Burke, who I think deserves more leading roles, but Abela is quite the scene-stealer here. Nice seeing a few Bond alumni like Harris (who played Money Penny) and 007 himself, Pierce Brosnan, as the head of NCSC; kind of like the Bond franchise’s M with a bag of secrets of his own.

I enjoyed Black Bag immensely from start to finish. It’s the best 2025 movie that I’ve seen so far. The cinematography is gorgeous, shot by Soderbergh himself, and I enjoy David Holmes’ wonderfully moody, retro-sounding score. The performances are believable and the storyline, set in the course of an eventful week, has just the right amount of twists without getting too convoluted. It’s immensely satisfying to watch a well-crafted, sharply directed, and intelligently written film that wraps up nicely in just 93 minutes.

Have you seen BLACK BAG? I’d love to hear what you think!