Steven Soderbergh directs Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender and Tom Burke in this spy mystery where a married couple, who keep their work lives out of the bedroom, begin to suspect each other of betrayal.

30 years ago the mid-level budgeted movie saved Soderbergh’s career with Out Of Sight. Here he is now returning the favour trying to revive the mid-level budget movie. The plot is essentially Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy… only Smiley’s estranged wife Ann is a high ranking field agent and chief suspect. There is also a fair amount of the corrosive sexual mistrust from Mike Nichol’s Closer bunged in. Don’t expect any titillation. One explosion aside there isn’t even a whiff of 007 scale action. This is a talky piece. Bluffs, ruses, mind games, confessions, confrontations. Formally elegant (bookended by two dinner parties in the same location) and visually elite. It was fine as a one watcher and the ensemble casting is really quite special. Fassbender is outstanding as the cold fish investigator.

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Perfect Double Bill: Presence (2025)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/ and my own Substack https://substack.com/@edinburghlaughterbulletin