This film is equally strange for being one of the most expensive and highly produced pieces of fan fiction that completely missed the point – and also for being an incredible attempt by domestic abuser Michael Fassbender to reinvent himself as a character actor placing himself around good actors and looking blankly into space.
The plot is essentially a modern fan fiction of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1974) but with a complete lack of appreciation for what made the original work – counting instead on there being a lot of talking to have labelled as a psychological and clever.
Between this at The Killer (2023) I am starting to think there’s a pattern here and Fassbender is now basically on a quest to erase past with forced accolades – and Netflix is either trying to make Fetch happen or exploiting him as cheap talent.
Spoilers ahead for Black Bag (2025) and The Killer.
Continue reading I watched: Black Bag (2025)