The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret.
George (Michael Fassbender) is one of the top-ranking officers overseeing the United Kingdoms National Cyber Security Centre.
They love their work.
Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender in ‘Black Bag’Claudette Barius/Focus Features
They love each other even more.
All of the pertinent-yet-verboten info goes into what they call the black bag.
Its mutually off-limits, an inaccessible interzone of intel, metaphorical territory more neutral than Switzerland.
What are you working on?
Who are you tracking?
Where are you going for three days?
Those two words equal no-more-questions.
You get the feeling that this symbolic gesture is the key to their successful marriage.
Or, barring that, theyd deliver their own version of aMr.
(Credit Koepp for showing restraint and not simply naming the protagonists George and Martha.)
Its a great espionage thriller, and an even better scenes-from-a-marriage drama.
Ian Fleming would love this.
So would Ingmar Bergman.
Stay away from the chana masala, he advises his wife.
It contains a narcotic that acts as a truth serum.
Cue Blanchetts best Mona Lisa smile.
Each of them are flattered to be invited.
As for Kathryns unexpected need to go abroad for a few days the destination?
Yes, their relationship gets tested.
You dont need the fate of the world at stake to recognize that.
Soderbergh and company have given us a remarkably fun riff on international intrigue.
See it with someone you love.
