“Black Bag” (R, 93 minute, in theaters) proves that a conversation can be more gripping than a car chase.
Steven Soderbergh’s sexy, cerebral spy suspenser stars Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender as Kathryn and George Woodhouse, married British intelligence operatives who get caught up in intrigue.
George learns that a secret software program, called Severus, has been leaked, and the lives of thousands are at risk as a result. Five suspects are identified, including Kathryn. George and Kathryn – apparently unaware that she is a suspect – have the other four (Tom Burke, Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris and Rege-Jean Page) over to their house for a dinner party, and the mind games begin.
Michael Fassbender plays George Woodhouse in “Black Bag.” (Focus Features)
The dinner is just the beginning, as George, coldly and methodically, uses various methods to try to root out not only the culprit but the scheme behind the leak.
Meanwhile, questions arise. Among them: What kind of person does it take to become an effective spy? Given George’s position, and if a choice is necessary, will he act in favor of his wife or his country? What would we do? Do desirable ends justify ruthless means?
And then there are the questions that seem particularly relevant in our current political situation: How well do we know our loved ones? Is there a point where their actions and/or beliefs – Oh, I don’t know, maybe an embrace of fascism? – requires us to end our relationships with them? Where does that point exist?
Cate Blanchett plays Kathryn Woodhouse in “Black Bag.” (Focus Features)
“Black Bag” delves into these morally murky areas in a way that makes it a thinking person’s spy thriller. The mystery behind the Severus leak is essentially what Hitchcock called a MacGuffin – a device, or excuse, to move the plot along and get to its juicier elements. In lesser films, MacGuffins lead to explosives, chases and other (by now usually tired) action sequences. Here, the action mostly comes in the form of strategic twists, various forms of manipulation and dialogue. (Warning: I found, perhaps because of the British accents, much of the dialogue hard to decipher; one reason, and there are many, why I’m eager to see the film again.)
Soderbergh, who served as director, cinematographer and editor, and David Koepp (“Jurassic Park”), who wrote the screenplay, deserve a lot of credit for challenging moviegoers with this tricky, thinky thriller. ***½ (out of four)
Also in theaters:
“Mickey 17” (R, 137 minutes): This goofy sci-fi film from director Bong Jong Ho (“Parasite,”
Robert Pattinson gives a comic tour de force in “Mickey 17.” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
“Snowpiercer”) works with a premise similar to that of the Tom Cruise action comedy “Edge of Tomorrow,” with a hero who keeps dying, only to be revived each time to continue his missions. Robert Pattinson plays Mickey Barnes, an “Expendable” who performs lethal assignments for a space expedition attempting to colonize a planet. Pattinson’s high-pitched, Marty McFly delivery as the hard-luck Mickey is funny in itself, as are the horrific situations in which he finds himself. Mark Ruffalo, as the ruthless, self-serving, dimwitted expedition leader – Now whom could he represent? – and Naomi Ackie (“Blink Twice”), as Mickey’s love interest, give the film an added boost, but Pattison dominates with his comic tour de force. ***
“Novocaine” (R, 110 minutes). Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), a meek assistant manager at a San Diego credit union, can’t feel physical pain. He’s careful eating, for instance, for fear that he might unknowingly bite off his tongue. When the credit union is robbed by a vicious trio of Santa Clauses, and they take his new girlfriend (Amber Midthunder) as a hostage, Nathan steals a police cruiser and pursues them. While on his quest to find them, he is mutilated, tortured and otherwise horribly wounded – but doesn’t feel a thing. It’s not as much fun as it sounds. **
“Last Breath” (PG-13, 93 minutes). A diver working on a pipeline deep in the North Sea is injured, trapped and running out of oxygen. It’s up to the team on the ship above to save him, while contending with a raging storm. It’s an inspiring true story about loyalty and heroism, and Woody Harrelson heads the cast, a big plus. You almost feel obligated to like it, and, yet, it’s more stressful than suspenseful, not particularly entertaining. **½
“Captain America: Brave New World” (PG-13, 118 minutes). Anthony Mackie plays Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, who must contend with the volatile new U.S. president, Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), whose motives are unclear (here we go again). This minor Marvel movie starts out fine, with an exciting assassination attempt, but loses steam, leading to a lame showdown in which cherry blossoms (ah, the symbolism) appear to be the answer to the world’s problems. **’
** Click here for Tim Miller’s previous movie columns for Cape Cod Wave **
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Tim Miller, Movie Critic
Tim Miller is co-president of the Boston Society of Film Critics and a Tomatometer-approved critic. He teaches film and journalism at Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or follow him onTwitter @TimMillerCritic. Or you can ignore him completely.
