If there’s one director out there today who consistently knows how to keep viewers guessing, it would be Steven Soderbergh. His latest, “Black Bag,” is now available to rent at home just a month after its theatrical release. The film is a stylish, sleek, sharply cut spy thriller with strong performances all around, and it is beautifully captured. We are four months into 2025, and this is by far the best film I’ve watched of the year’s new releases.
“Black Bag” (2025) Review: Soderbergh’s Guessing Game
Steven Soderbergh Delivers Through Style and Speech
Soderbergh knows his strengths as a director and does nearly all he can to flex those with “Black Bag.” The film is so sharply cut and sleek that it’s one of the best-looking films I’ve seen in a while. There’s no CGI; it is just Soderbergh using the natural surroundings and lighting to emphasize this thriller and its intentions.
What are the intentions of this film? To keep your mind guessing and polished from the opening scene until the credits begin to roll. It’s very well written and the film is heavily carried by dialogue. In fact, there is very minimal action in this film. But the dialogue and its delivery are so perfect and intriguing that it doesn’t matter that the action is all but eliminated.
A Strong Cast Full of Liars
Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender collectively produce my two favorite performances of the year by a landslide. They’re cool, calm, collected, sexy and smarter than hell in the situation that they have been dealt. The chemistry is perfectly executed, but they’re not the only ones. The supporting cast has great performances as well, notably Marisa Abela, Rege-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and the brilliant Pierce Brosnan. All of their screen time, small or large, leaves a lasting impression in this film.
The Best of 2025 So Far
Soderbergh somehow takes this dialogue-heavy spy thriller with little to no action and turns it into the best film of 2025 through the first half of April. With strong performances, beautiful naturally-lit scenes and a score that has great jazz undertones, “Black Bag” is a fun surprise to watch. Just see if you can figure out who’s responsible before the reveal, because I bet you can’t!
“It’s been a while since we had a traitor to dinner. At least knowingly.” – Kathryn St. Jean
Check out all of our latest 2025 movie reviews:
Thanks for reading my “Black Bag” (2025) Review: Soderbergh’s Guessing Game.” Don’t forget to follow me on “Letterboxd,” the movie lovers’ social media platform to review films, create lists, save a watch list and communicate with other movie lovers.
You can also find me on Twitter/X @snag1025 for more entertainment content and reviews!
