WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for Black Bag.
Those who are seeingBlack Bagin theaters will not want to miss a single second of Steven Soderbergh and David Koepp’s whip-smart and sharply paced espionage thriller. At a sleek 93-minute runtime,Black Bagmoves at a rollercoaster’s speed through various plot exposition and twists. Without even realizing it, you’re in the final act of the film, mostly due to the immersive performances of Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, andBlack Bag’sstellar ensemble cast.
Keeping up withBlack Bag’space is more of a mental workoutthan a passive form of entertainment. Hardly anything in the film is revisited other than the stakes – if George fails to find the Severus mole in one week, tens of thousands of innocent people could die. Because nearly everyone inBlack Bagis a professional liar, it’s impossible to decipher between truth and fiction throughout most of the film, even as it is seen through the eyes of the “human lie detector” George Woodhouse.
Black Bag’s Ending Is Rushed & Becomes Information Overload
There’s Not A Second Of Black Bag You Can Miss To Absorb The Entire Plot
Theending ofBlack Bagis a powerhouse of dialogue that can make for a tantalizing watch, especially without the at-home luxuries of closed captions and a pause button. The rapid-fire speed at which the truth about the Severus leak unfolds can make one’s head spin and made me wish I’d brought a pen and paper to capture the full extent of the plot. Thisinformation overload makes for an engaging, if not overwhelming, conclusionthat will surely leave those who left the theater for a refill or bathroom break scratching their heads upon their return.
Where To Watch Black Bag: Showtimes & Streaming Status
Black Bag will be showing in theaters across the country on March 14, and tickets are now available to book through multiple different sites.
It took me a while to piece all the plot elements ofBlack Bagtogether even after I left that theater.Because the film is so structurally lean, it can be unforgivingto those who aren’t entirely immersed in the story.
When the final trigger is pulled, there’s no question about who the mole was. What’s more unclear is the why and how.
Even those who were engaged throughout, like myself, will still find ita brain challenge akin to an academic lectureto absorb every detail of Severus, the Russian criminals, the various relationships and cheating scandals, etc. However, when the final trigger is pulled, there’s no question about who the mole was. What’s more unclear is the why and how.
I’m Confident Multiple Viewings Of Black Bag Will Help Clear Up Any Confusion
At Just 93 Minutes, Black Bag Is Absolutely Worth A Second Watch
I’m thrilled to be able to see a star-studded yet low-budget thriller likeBlack Bagon the big screen in this day and age.Parts ofBlack Bagare surely meant to be confusingto match the mind state of Fassbender’s George. That said, I truly need another run-through to capture all the plot and character elements stuffed intoBlack Bag’sunusually short runtime. Typically, when films are right around 90 minutes, I suspect they don’t have enough narrative content. The opposite is true ofBlack Bag, which – similar to Fassbender’s CIA drama seriesThe Agency– is filled to the brim with narrative leads and misleads.
