An edge-of-your-seat spy drama

As the go-to spot for exclusive releases, Ayala Malls Cinemas presents “Black Bag,” the latest edge-of-your-seat spy thriller from acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh. It features a stellar cast including Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan.

“Black Bag” revolves around George Woodhouse (Fassbender), a top British intelligence officer working for the National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC) as he faces the ultimate test of loyalty when he investigates a critical security breach. His devotion to his country is only matched by his loyalty to his wife, fellow agent Kathryn St. Jean (Blanchett). When the agency is alerted to a mole within their ranks, Woodhouse is given a list of five suspects to investigate, a list that includes his beloved wife.

An insightful and stylish take on a classic genre, Black Bag amps up suspense and tension in a twisted tale of deception and betrayal. As the heart of the film is centered around the relationship between George and Kathryn, writer David Koepp and Soderbergh wanted actors that will deliver authenticity, and that’s where Fassbender and Blanchett come in.

“Both Michael and Cate bring exceptional acting skill, which is easy to say, but difficult to find,” Koepp says. “They both have a powerful understanding of screen acting and how to do more with less. George’s job is to withhold, to be steely. Michael’s performance is a masterpiece of minimalism. Cate’s role is much more expressive, but you often wonder what’s really going on behind her eyes.”

This is not the first time Fassbender has been on a Soderbergh film, having worked together in 2011’s Haywire, and he was eager to be with the director again with such a compelling script. “I read the script and said I’m in. We talked about details like what kind of spectacles George would wear and that he might have a stainless-steel kitchen. George is a very traditional, old-school character and quite an obsessive guy, so the small things were very important,” he explains.

Blanchett has even more of a relationship with the director, having worked with him for three films now. It was an automatic yes for her, even without going through the script.

“I just said, ‘Who am I playing?’ It was written by David and directed by Steven. That’s all I needed to know. Steven’s got amazing panache and range as a filmmaker. He doesn’t stay in the same lane. He understands the outsider’s perspective these characters have, the way they can move almost panther-like through the world,” she says.

“Black Bag” will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas starting May 7.