Does Black Bag’s beautiful cast get away with murder? The pretty privilege debate with Rege-Jean Page and Naomie Harris
Actors who play super spies in director Steven Soderbergh’s twisted thriller open up
Dubai: Steven Soderbergh’s Black Bag isn’t your typical Hollywood spy thriller. There are no gravity-defying stunts or never-ending shootouts—aside from a couple of cars blowing up, of course. Instead, it’s a razor-sharp, psychologically-charged drama where espionage is a game of manipulation and trust is a currency that these sharp agents trade in.
The film brings together an impressive ensemble -- Rege-Jean Page, Naomie Harris, Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, and Pierce Brosnan -- playing spies whose relationships are as complex and borderline-incestuous as their missions.
In this intelligent thriller, the most dangerous weapon isn’t a gun or a gadget—it’s their collective charisma.
But do these impossibly attractive spies benefit from pretty privilege? Do audiences excuse their morally murky decisions simply because they look good doing bad things? Gulf News put the question to the film’s stars, Rege-Jean Page and Naomie Harris.
“I like to think it’s because the cast are all such compelling performers that their powers are undeniable,” says Page with a laugh, sidestepping the suggestion that sheer charisma might cloud audience judgment.
Harris, however, digs her heels into it.
“What motivates their dysfunction is a lot of trauma as well. That’s what makes the writing so amazing. You can say they’re morally corrupt, but at the same time, you have deep empathy and compassion for them.”
But the key word is corrupt, adds Page as he expands on the film’s themes of corruption.
“There’s a reason that they are morally corrupt ... They’re not just immoral. They know the rules. They are very, very competent professionals, and they are choosing when they feel the need to break the rules for the greater good. The film really examines how they define the greater good, how they define goodness, how they define themselves and their own personal drives. And that’s where the corruption comes in—where you are in danger of being corrupted. So they may well be corrupt, but I think that’s what’s fascinating about them more than anything else.”
The movie, out in the UAE cinemas this March 14, is also a searing portrait of marriages and partnerships under pressure, of love tangled up with betrayal, and of people who can’t be sure whether the person beside them is their ally or enemy.
With Black Bag, out in the UAE cinemas on April 17 and US cinemas this Friday, Soderbergh skillfully peels away the flashy excess of traditional spy thrillers and rolls out a gripping movie. Plus, it's a searing take on how married couples who work as agents on high-stakes mission can never be full sure if their spouse is their ally or foe...
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with the Page and Harris …
What was the appeal of Black Bag for you, and was there a particular moment you enjoyed the most?
Rege-Jean Page: The biggest appeal for me was how intelligent and well-put-together the script was. It meant that everyone who came on board would have so much good material to work with. Knowing that Steven is guiding that script and that story means that you’re in good hands from the beginning. The journey of reading this script was fascinating—you never quite knew where it was going to end, which is rare. Once we reached the ending, there was an immediate desire to go back and re-examine all the clues we might have missed along the way.
Naomie Harris: I agree with all of that. It's rare enough to get a script where you have a multifaceted, multi-dimensional lead character to play, let alone an ensemble cast where each character has their own agenda, is fully developed, fully rounded, and fascinating. They all could have their own movie because they are so well-defined and so fascinating as people. So that was a real pull for me.
Your first scene together was quite intimate. How did you navigate that?
Naomie Harris: My first scene was the bedroom scene, which was nerve-wracking. I thought it would be an intimate, romantic moment, but Soderbergh changed it completely. It was nerve-wracking to meet someone for the first time and jump straight into that scene. But from the start, Rege was a complete gentleman. He asked if I wanted an intimacy coordinator and made sure I felt comfortable. That set the tone for a supportive, yet also combative, dynamic between our characters.
Rege-Jean Page: Our characters had a very competitive relationship. Their entire relationship was built on the balance between support and competition.
Naomie Harris: That's what they like about each other.
What surprised you most about the world of spies while preparing for your roles?
Rege-Jean Page: The most surprising thing I learned is actually a spoiler. The way a certain character beats the polygraph test definitely surprised me the most, and I think we all know to which character I am referring, so I won’t say more here [screeners to the spy thriller were given to journalists ahead of this interview]. But that was definitely the thing that made me chuckle the most.
Naomie Harris: My research was in clinical psychology rather than so much in the spy world. What really surprised me was that 12% of all clinical psychologists admit to having slept with one of their clients. And that’s self-confessed as well, so I think the numbers are probably even higher. That blew my mind.
Spy thrillers often play with audience expectations. Did you make any choices to either uphold or subvert those expectations?
Rege-Jean Page: For me, it was about allowing the character to care more than you often see in these films. People often think that the spy genre is all about repression and what people hold back. And I think that is true, but then have to define what is being repressed and what is being held back. In this film, that’s all about intimacy. All of these characters are searching for a place where they can find intimacy and trust, with varying degrees of success.
Naomie Harris: The script really gave me that because Zoe is incredibly unorthodox in the way that she goes about therapising her clients. I loved leaning into that because I loved the idea that here is somebody who knows all of the rules but has chosen to throw the rule book away and rewrite it on her terms to get the kind of results that she wants from people. It’s corrupt, but it’s also admirable.
The film features strong diversity and representation across cultures and genders. It looks impressively woke. Your thoughts.
Rege-Jean Page: Honestly, it didn't cross my mind and I think that’s a victory. The fact that it didn’t cross my mind means it was entirely natural. The cast looked reflective of the world that we live in. It felt uncontrived and authentic.
How do you feel about Black Bag being released in theaters?
Rege-Jean Page: I can’t wait to see this with an audience. Even in a small screening, the movie comes to life—you feel how people are reacting around you. The humor in the film can be a surprise. Plus, hearing other people laugh because someone has done something very clever or unexpected is incredibly rewarding. I’m happy that people will get to have that communal experience in a theater.
Naomie Harris: It’s a really [an edgy], grown-up movie, and I like that. It’s not patronising in any way. It credits the audience with intelligence—it trusts that people are fascinated by complex characters and relationships. I love that a film like this is in cinemas because hopefully, it will lead to more films like this being made.
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Black Bag is out in UAE cinemas on April 17 and in the US cinemas on March 14
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