Tag: presence

  • Every Steven Soderbergh Movie, Ranked

    Every Steven Soderbergh Movie, Ranked

    Director Steven Soderbergh on the set of 'Black Bag', a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    Director Steven Soderbergh on the set of ‘Black Bag’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    Steven Soderbergh is one of the most prolific and celebrated filmmakers of his generation.

    The director’s breakthrough movie, 1989’s ‘sex, lies, and videotape‘, gave birth to the independent film movement of the 1990’s. Soderbergh would go on to helm such acclaimed films as ‘Out of Sight‘, ‘Erin Brockovich‘, and ‘Traffic‘, which earned him an Oscar for Best Director, before going on to make the popular ‘Ocean’s Eleven‘ and ‘Magic Mike‘ franchises.

    Soderbergh has two movies releasing in 2025, the experimental supernatural film ‘Presence‘, which opened in theaters on January 24th, and the spy thriller ‘Black Bag‘, which stars Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett, and is scheduled for release on March 14th.

    In honor of the upcoming release of ‘Black Bag’, Moviefone is counting down every film Steven Soderbergh has ever directed, including TV movies, documentaries, anthology films, and his latest.

    Let’s begin!


    38. ‘Full Frontal‘ (2002)

    (L to R) Blair Underwood and Julia Roberts in 'Full Frontal'. Photo: Miramax Films.
    (L to R) Blair Underwood and Julia Roberts in ‘Full Frontal’. Photo: Miramax Films.

    A day in the life of a group of men and women in Hollywood, in the hours leading up to a friend’s birthday party.

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    37. ‘Bubble‘ (2006)

    Set against the backdrop of a decaying Midwestern town, a murder becomes the focal point of three people who work in a doll factory.

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    36. ‘Unsane‘ (2018)

    A woman (Claire Foy) is involuntarily committed to a mental institution where she is confronted by her greatest fear.

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    35. ‘The Informant!‘ (2009)

    Matt Damon in 'The Informant!'. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
    Matt Damon in ‘The Informant!’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    A rising star at agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon) suddenly turns whistleblower. Even as he exposes his company’s multi-national price-fixing conspiracy to the FBI, Whitacre envisions himself being hailed as a hero of the common man and handed a promotion.

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    34. ‘And Everything Is Going Fine‘ (2010)

    From the first time he performed ‘Swimming to Cambodia‘ – the one-man account of his experience of making the 1984 film ‘The Killing Fields‘ – Spalding Gray made the art of the monologue his own. Drawing unstintingly on the most intimate aspects of his own life, his shows were vibrant, hilarious and moving. His death came tragically early, in 2004; this compilation of interview and performance footage nails his idiosyncratic and irreplaceable brilliance.

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    33. ‘Schizopolis‘ (1997)

    A man works for the unpleasant guru of a Scientology-like movement.

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    32. ‘Let Them All Talk‘ (2020)

    A celebrated author (Meryl Streep) takes a journey with some old friends to have some fun and heal old wounds. Her nephew (Lucas Hedges) comes along to wrangle the ladies and finds himself involved with a young literary agent (Gemma Chan).

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    31. ‘The Underneath‘ (1995)

    A recovering gambling addict (Peter Gallagher) attempts to reconcile with his family and friends but finds trouble and temptation when caught between feelings for his ex-wife (Alison Elliott) and her dangerous hoodlum boyfriend (William Fichtner).

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    30. ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance‘ (2023)

    (L to R) Salma Hayek Pinault as Maxandra Mendoza and Channing Tatum as Mike Lane in Warner Bros. Pictures musical comedy 'Magic Mike's Last Dance,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo: Claudette Barius. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Salma Hayek Pinault as Maxandra Mendoza and Channing Tatum as Mike Lane in Warner Bros. Pictures musical comedy ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo: Claudette Barius. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) takes to the stage again after a lengthy hiatus, following a business deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking bartender gigs in Florida. For what he hopes will be one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite (Salma Hayek Pinault) who lures him with an offer he can’t refuse… and an agenda all her own. With everything on the line, once Mike discovers what she truly has in mind, will he—and the roster of hot new dancers he’ll have to whip into shape—be able to pull it off?

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    29. ‘Solaris‘ (2002)

    A troubled psychologist (George Clooney) is sent to investigate the crew of an isolated research station orbiting a bizarre planet.

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    28. ‘Gray’s Anatomy‘ (1997)

    The film documents, in an often dramatic and humorous fashion, Spalding Gray’s investigations into alternative medicine for an eye condition (Macular pucker) he had developed.

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    27. ‘King of the Hill‘ (1993)

    Based on the Depression-era bildungsroman memoir of writer A. E. Hotchner, the film follows the story of a boy (Jesse Bradford) struggling to survive on his own in a hotel in St. Louis after his mother is committed to a sanatorium with tuberculosis. His father, a German immigrant and traveling salesman working for the Hamilton Watch Company, is off on long trips from which the boy cannot be certain he will return.

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    26. ‘The Girlfriend Experience‘ (2009)

    Chelsea (Sasha Grey) is an in-demand call girl whose $2,000 an hour price tag allows her to live in New York’s lap of luxury. Besides her beauty and sexual skill, Chelsea offers her clients companionship and conversation, or, as she dubs it, “the girlfriend experience.” With her successful business and a devoted, live-in boyfriend, Chelsea thinks she has it made… until a new client rocks her world.

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    25. ‘Kimi‘ (2022)

    Zoë Kravitz in 'Kimi'. Photo: HBO Max.
    Zoë Kravitz in ‘Kimi’. Photo: HBO Max.

    A tech worker (Zoë Kravitz) with agoraphobia discovers recorded evidence of a violent crime but is met with resistance when she tries to report it. Seeking justice, she must do the thing she fears the most: leave her apartment.

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    24. ‘Eros‘ (2005)

    A three-part anthology film about love and sexuality: a menage-a-trois between a couple and a young woman on the coast of Tuscany; an advertising executive under enormous pressure at work, who, during visits to his psychiatrist, is pulled to delve into the possible reasons why his stress seems to manifest itself in a recurring erotic dream; and a story of unrequited love about a beautiful, 1960s high-end call girl in an impossible affair with her young tailor.

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    23. ‘The Good German‘ (2007)

    An American journalist (George Clooney) arrives in Berlin just after the end of World War Two. He becomes involved in a murder mystery surrounding a dead GI who washes up at a lakeside mansion during the Potsdam negotiations between the Allied powers. Soon his investigation connects with his search for his married pre-war German lover (Cate Blanchett).

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    22. ‘Che: Part Two‘ (2009)

    After the Cuban Revolution, Che (Benicio del Toro) is at the height of his fame and power. Then he disappears, re-emerging incognito in Bolivia, where he organizes a small group of Cuban comrades and Bolivian recruits to start the great Latin American Revolution. Through this story, we come to understand how Che remains a symbol of idealism and heroism that lives in the hearts of people around the world.

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    21. ‘The Laundromat‘ (2019)

    When a widow (Meryl Streep) gets swindled out of insurance money, her search for answers leads to two cunning lawyers (Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas) in Panama who hide cash for the superrich.

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    20. ‘High Flying Bird‘ (2019)

    André Holland in 'High Flying Bird'. Photo: Netflix.
    André Holland in ‘High Flying Bird’. Photo: Netflix.

    During an NBA lockout, a sports agent, Ray Burke (André Holland), presents his rookie client, Erick Scott (Melvin Gregg), with an intriguing and controversial business opportunity.

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    19. ‘Side Effects‘ (2013)

    A woman (Rooney Mara) turns to prescription medication as a way of handling her anxiety concerning her husband’s (Channing Tatum) upcoming release from prison.

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    18. ‘Che: Part One‘ (2009)

    The Argentine, begins as Che (Benicio del Toro) and a band of Cuban exiles (led by Fidel Castro (Demián Bichir)) reach the Cuban shore from Mexico in 1956. Within two years, they mobilized popular support and an army and toppled the U.S.-friendly regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista.

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    17. ‘Behind the Candelabra‘ (2013)

    Based on the autobiographical novel, the tempestuous 6-year relationship between Liberace (Michael Douglas) and his (much younger) lover, Scott Thorson (Matt Damon), is recounted.

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    16. ‘No Sudden Move‘ (2021)

    A group of criminals are brought together under mysterious circumstances and have to work together to uncover what’s really going on when their simple job goes completely sideways.

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    15. ‘Presence‘ (2025)

    Lucy Liu in 'Presence'. Photo: Neon.
    Lucy Liu in ‘Presence’. Photo: Neon.

    A family becomes convinced they are not alone after moving into their new home in the suburbs.

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    14. ‘Ocean’s Thirteen‘ (2007)

    Danny Ocean’s (George Clooney) team of criminals are back and composing a plan more personal than ever. When ruthless casino owner Willy Bank (Al Pacino) doublecrosses Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould), causing a heart attack, Danny Ocean vows that he and his team will do anything to bring down Willy Bank along with everything he’s got. Even if it means asking for help from an enemy.

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    13. ‘Kafka‘ (1991)

    Kafka (Jeremy Irons), an insurance worker gets embroiled in an underground group after a co-worker is murdered. The underground group is responsible for bombings all over town, attempting to thwart a secret organization that controls the major events in society. He eventually penetrates the secret organization and must confront them.

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    12. ‘Haywire‘ (2011)

    A black ops soldier (Gina Carano) seeks payback after she is betrayed and left for dead.

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    11. ‘Ocean’s Eleven‘ (2001)

    Less than 24 hours into his parole, charismatic thief Danny Ocean (George Clooney) is already rolling out his next plan: In one night, Danny’s hand-picked crew of specialists will attempt to steal more than $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos. But to score the cash, Danny risks his chances of reconciling with ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts).

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    10. ‘Logan Lucky‘ (2017)

    (L to R) Channing Tatum, Riley Keough and Adam Driver in 'Lucky Logan'. Photo: Bleecker Street.
    (L to R) Channing Tatum, Riley Keough and Adam Driver in ‘Lucky Logan’. Photo: Bleecker Street.

    Trying to reverse a family curse, brothers Jimmy (Channing Tatum) and Clyde Logan (Adam Driver) set out to execute an elaborate robbery during the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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    9. ‘Magic Mike‘ (2012)

    Mike (Channing Tatum), an experienced stripper, takes a younger performer called The Kid (Alex Pettyfer) under his wing and schools him in the arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money.

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    8. ‘Contagion‘ (2011)

    As an epidemic of a lethal airborne virus – that kills within days – rapidly grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself.

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    7. ‘Ocean’s Twelve‘ (2004)

    Danny Ocean (George Clooney) reunites with his old flame and the rest of his merry band of thieves in carrying out three huge heists in Rome, Paris and Amsterdam – but a Europol agent is hot on their heels.

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    6. ‘sex, lies, and videotape‘ (1989)

    Ann (Andie MacDowell), a frustrated wife, enters into counseling due to a troubled marriage. Unbeknownst to her, her husband John (Peter Gallagher) has begun an affair with her sister. When John’s best friend Graham (James Spader) arrives, his penchant for interviewing women about their sex lives forever changes John and Ann’s rocky marriage.

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    5. ‘Black Bag‘ (2025)

    Michael Fassbender stars as George Woodhouse in director Steven Soderbergh's 'Black Bag', a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    Michael Fassbender stars as George Woodhouse in director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Black Bag’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Black Bag’ is a gripping spy drama about legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) and his beloved wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett). When she is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country.

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    4. ‘Erin Brockovich‘ (2000)

    A twice-divorced mother (Julia Roberts) of three who sees an injustice, takes on the bad guy and wins — with a little help from her push-up bra. Erin goes to work for an attorney and comes across medical records describing illnesses clustered in one nearby town. She starts investigating and soon exposes a monumental cover-up.

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    3. ‘Out of Sight‘ (1998)

    Meet Jack Foley (George Clooney), a smooth criminal who bends the law and is determined to make one last heist. Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez) is a federal marshal who chooses all the right moves … and all the wrong guys. Now they’re willing to risk it all to find out if there’s more between them than just the law.

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    2. ‘Traffic‘ (2000)

    An exploration of the United States of America’s war on drugs from multiple perspectives. For the new head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (Michael Douglas), the war becomes personal when he discovers his well-educated daughter (Erika Christensen) is abusing cocaine within their comfortable suburban home. In Mexico, a flawed, but noble policeman (Benicio del Toro) agrees to testify against a powerful general in league with a cartel, and in San Diego, a drug kingpin’s sheltered trophy wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) must learn her husband’s ruthless business after he is arrested, endangering her luxurious lifestyle.

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    1. ‘The Limey‘ (1999)

    (L to R) Luis Guzmán and Terence Stamp in 'The Limey'. Photo: Artisan Entertainment.
    (L to R) Luis Guzmán and Terence Stamp in ‘The Limey’. Photo: Artisan Entertainment.

    The Limey follows Wilson (Terence Stamp), a tough English ex-con who travels to Los Angeles to avenge his daughter’s death. Upon arrival, Wilson goes to task battling Valentine (Peter Fonda) and an army of L.A.’s toughest criminals, hoping to find clues and piece together what happened. After surviving a near-death beating, getting thrown from a building and being chased down a dangerous mountain road, the Englishman decides to dole out some bodily harm of his own.

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  • Movie Review: ‘Black Bag’

    Michael Fassbender stars as George Woodhouse in director Steven Soderbergh's 'Black Bag', a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    Michael Fassbender stars as George Woodhouse in director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Black Bag’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Black Bag’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.

    Opening in theaters on March 14th, ‘Black Bag’ feels for all the world like Steven Soderbergh set himself and writer David Koepp the challenge of blending a thorny, John le Carré story with the effortlessly cool and stylish work the director was doing in his ‘Limey’ era.

    The prolific filmmaker (who also serves as his own cinematographer and editor), has been on a real tear of late –– this is his second film in a matter of months (he had experimental ghost story ‘Presence’ out back in January –– and by any reasonable reckoning, it is by far the superior entry in his canon.

    Related Article: Every Steven Soderbergh Movie, Ranked!

    Is ‘Black Bag’ worth spying at your local theater?

    Cate Blanchett stars as Kathryn St. Jean in director Steven Soderbergh's 'Black Bag', a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    Cate Blanchett stars as Kathryn St. Jean in director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Black Bag’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    Soderbergh is most certainly on top form here, crafting a twisty, thoughtful and timely piece of drama about trust and deception, and the difficulty of maintaining a relationship when much of your life is built on lies –– either ferreting them out or maintaining them.

    Having gathered one of the best casts in a while, he uses them in excellent ways, Koepp’s script providing a cluster of superb characters to get their teeth into, especially Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett.

    It’s not a spy movie in the ‘Mission: Impossible‘ mold (the stunt budget here would probably pay for a day of craft service on a Tom Cruise film), but it’s intellectual and frisky, always keeping you on the back foot, unsure of who to believe.

    Script and Direction

    Director Steven Soderbergh on the set of 'Black Bag', a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    Director Steven Soderbergh on the set of ‘Black Bag’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    Credit to David Koepp for here concocting a fascinating screenplay filled to the brim with interesting personalities and crackling drama.

    We’re introduced to a group of operatives who work for Britain’s National Cyber Security Center, whose mission is to take down cyber threats to the UK and the wider world. But when the organization learns there is a mole working to get hold of their software worm known as Severus, which has the ability to integrate itself into nuclear facilities and wreak havoc, Fassbender’s George Woodhouse is tasked with sniffing out the traitor (or traitors).

    Unlike, say, ‘Jason Bourne‘, George’s primary weapon here is his brain and his culinary skills (no, really) as he invites a group of colleagues to a dinner party where the secret ingredient in one dish is a healthy serving of truth serum. Along with his wife Kathryn, who might well be even smarter and more dangerous than George (and who he’s led to believe could be a mole herself), he tasks his guests with playing party games that lead to personal revelations.

    (L to R) Regé-Jean Page as Col. James Stokes and Michael Fassbender as George Woodhouse in director Steven Soderbergh's 'Black Bag', a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Regé-Jean Page as Col. James Stokes and Michael Fassbender as George Woodhouse in director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Black Bag’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    But the real secret here that the fireworks are less grenades and bullets and more inner demons, as everyone has something they’re hiding and no-one is simply good or bad.

    In Soderbergh’s hands, the screenplay comes to smooth, stylish life, scored with a jazzy David Holmes track that suits its near-timeless feel. Aside from some of the vehicles and the obvious tech angle, this is a story that could have been set in the 1960s without losing any of its power.

    Yet the technology aspect gives it an extra frisson in this age of misinformation and shady online morals.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Michael Fassbender as George Woodhouse and Marisa Abela as Clarissa Dubose in director Steven Soderbergh's 'Black Bag', a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Michael Fassbender as George Woodhouse and Marisa Abela as Clarissa Dubose in director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Black Bag’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    As we mentioned earlier, this is one of the most impressive casts assembled in a movie so far this year, and they bring the script to fizzy, emotional life.

    Fassbender’s Woodhouse comes across as a combination of the intensity of his take on Magneto and the fastidiousness of his character in ‘The Killer.’ This is a committed patriot, a man who rarely lets emotion conflict with his mission. And Fassbender brings such cool effectiveness to the role, especially when a secret about his past comes to light (let’s just say his father was not the most faithful when it came to the sanctity of marriage).

    Blanchett, for her part is feline cool, slinky and lethal in her way, and always keeping her intensions close to her chest. Kathryn is a clear match for her husband in skillset –– and her role is a highlight in a movie that features plenty of them.

    Regé-Jean Page is Colonel James Stokes, a ramrod loyal agent who serves under Woodhouse and is dating Harris’ character. While the actor has tackled characters such as this before, Stokes is more complicated and a tinder box, ready to explode.

    Naomie Harris, herself a veteran of the Bond movies (she played Moneypenny during the Craig era) is another cool customer, quirky shrink Dr. Zoe Vaughan who treats the rest of her colleagues but might be as messed up as they are. She’s utterly brilliant in the role, taking no crap from anyone but also coming across as complicated as those she oversees.

    (L to R) Tom Burke as Freddie Smalls and Michael Fassbender as George Woodhouse in director Steven Soderbergh's 'Black Bag', a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Tom Burke as Freddie Smalls and Michael Fassbender as George Woodhouse in director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Black Bag’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    Tom Burke is all seething regret and resentment as Freddie Smalls, a formerly hotshot agent who has somewhat lost himself in addictions to various narcotics and pleasures. Burke, a chameleon of an actor, really digs into the role and is hugely entertaining.

    Finally in the main cast, we have ‘Industry’ and ‘Back to Black’s Marisa Abela playing Clarissa Dubose, the youngest of the friend group, who is dating Freddie but can’t quite believe what she’s got herself into. But as with everyone else, there’s more to her than that.

    But we would be remiss if we didn’t mention sterling support from Pierce Brosnan, himself a former James Bond, who has a small role but earns every moment of his screen time as Arthur Stieglitz, one of the group’s superior officers who feels himself superior in every way. It’s a great piece of casting, not just for the espionage movie tie-in.

    Final Thoughts

    Cate Blanchett stars as Kathryn St. Jean in director Steven Soderbergh's 'Black Bag', a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    Cate Blanchett stars as Kathryn St. Jean in director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Black Bag’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    It might not hold the sort of action antics we’re used to from Bond, Bourne or even Ethan Hunt, but if you’re a fan of the complex, knotty and well-drawn characters of le Carré, this will certainly make you smile(y).

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    What’s the story of ‘Black Bag’?

    ‘Black Bag’ follows legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) and his beloved wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett).

    When she is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test –– loyalty to his marriage or his country.

    Who also stars in ‘Black Bag’?

    • Cate Blanchett as Kathryn Woodhouse
    • Michael Fassbender as George Woodhouse
    • Marisa Abela as Clarissa Dubose
    • Tom Burke as Freddie Smalls
    • Naomie Harris as Dr. Zoe Vaughan
    • Regé-Jean Page as Col. James Stokes
    • Pierce Brosnan as Arthur Stieglitz
    (L to R) Actor Michael Fassbender and director Steven Soderbergh on the set of 'Black Bag', a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Actor Michael Fassbender and director Steven Soderbergh on the set of ‘Black Bag’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

    List of Steven Soderbergh Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Black Bag’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Steven Soderbergh Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Presence’

    Callina Liang as Chloe in 'Presence'. Photo: Neon.
    Callina Liang as Chloe in ‘Presence’. Photo: Neon.

    ‘Presence’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.

    Opening in theaters on January 24th, ‘Presence’ is the latest film from Steven Soderbergh, who seemingly never stops wanting to play with format and style, and usually to interesting effect.

    While his new supernatural drama certainly has some elements to recommend it, what works about the movie does end up getting a little lost within his format-tinkering, the style somewhat overcoming the substance of the emotional, human story at its core.

    Related Article: Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan Talk Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’

    Will ‘Presence’ haunt your thoughts?

    Callina Liang as Chloe in 'Presence'. Photo: Neon.
    Callina Liang as Chloe in ‘Presence’. Photo: Neon.

    Soderbergh really does enjoy pushing boundaries, trying out different genres such as action or heist movie and seeing what he can do within the playground he assigns himself.

    For ‘Presence,’ the focus is seemingly on the likes of the ‘Paranormal Activity’ movies, supernatural stories with people at their core, though with a twist –– using the camera as main viewpoint, the drama here unfolds before the gaze of a spirit haunting a house that sees a new family move in.

    As they bicker and deceive, we watch, initially passively until the entity decides to try and influence matters. And suffice to say, there are plenty of reasons to get involved, since bad decisions lead to life-threatening situations and head into areas we won’t spoil.

    Trouble is, with the main story effectively happening in front of our floating eyes, the connection with most of the characters feels remote, and its hard –– at least until the later stages –– to really empathize with much of the drama unfolding.

    Script and Direction

    (L to R) Callina Liang, Chris Sullivan, Eddy Maday, Lucy Liu and Julia Fox in 'Presence'. Photo: Neon.
    (L to R) Callina Liang, Chris Sullivan, Eddy Maday, Lucy Liu and Julia Fox in ‘Presence’. Photo: Neon.

    Veteran writer David Koepp, who has some experience working with Soderbergh at this point (via the likes of pandemic era-thriller ‘Kimi’ and 2025 release ‘Black Bag,’ is also no stranger to supernatural themes.

    As both writer and director, he previously brought us ‘Stir of Echoes’ (coincidentally featuring a “Special Thanks” credit for Soderbergh, who presumably gave notes on the film as it was developed and then edited), in which a haunted Kevin Bacon sees visions of a missing girl.

    While that movie saw him adapting a Richard Matheson story, ‘Presence’ is an original work from Koepp, albeit one that was clearly written to satisfy Soderbergh’s wish to look at viewpoint and family from a different angle.

    The trouble is, as mentioned above, it also sacrifices connection –– when the technical prowess and experimentation with style subsumes relatability with the characters, that distance makes the film less than the sum of its parts. And the storylines contained within are fairly rote; you’ll likely see where the one truly satisfying plot is going from early on.

    As director (plus cinematographer and editor), Soderbergh is someone who has plenty of skill and talent to bring to bear, but you do sometimes wonder if he gets lost in the joy of experimentation and forgets to craft a truly rounded project. Still, no one should reject him for trying something different.

    ‘Presence’: Performances

    As has been discussed, the performances here, barring one that stands out, are a little limited in terms of their impact.

    Callina Liang as Chloe

    Callina Liang stars in director Steven Soderbergh's 'Presence'.
    Callina Liang stars in director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’.

    Liang, a relative newcomer with some TV credits and a couple of other movies to her name, is tasked with carrying the emotional heavy load here. As the haunted Chloe (literally), grieving the death of her friend and dealing with the fact that her mother is focused almost entirely on her athlete brother, Liang brins nuance and pain to the role.

    And when things become more dangerous for her down the line, she is one of the few performers who invites you into the story, her expressive face conveying more than the script.

    Lucy Liu as Rebecca

    Lucy Liu stars in director Steven Soderbergh's 'Presence'.
    Lucy Liu stars in director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’.

    The matriarch of the family, Liu’s Rebecca is a seemingly complicated person who us in some trouble at work, but like most of the family, she’s largely a cipher, driving the plot along and saddled with a storyline that sometimes dips into very familiar squabbling parent syndrome.

    Chris Sullivan as Chris

    Chris Sullivan stars in director Steven Soderbergh's 'Presence'.
    Chris Sullivan stars in director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’.

    Sullivan is good at bringing world-weariness and unease to his character, Rebecca’s husband and the one person in the family who really seems to connect with Chloe. Sullivan does what he can with a role that, like the others, is at times underwritten.

    Eddy Maday as Tyler

    Eddy Maday stars in director Steven Soderbergh's 'Presence'.
    Eddy Maday stars in director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’.

    As the eldest child of the family a swimmer with ambition and ego, Maday makes a solid acting debut, bringing the right levels of petulance and a loaded mean streak to the role.

    Like Liang, he’s also entirely believable as a teenager used to getting their own way and also seeking friendship and acceptance in the world.

    West Mulholland as Ryan

    West Mulholland stars in director Steven Soderbergh's 'Presence'.
    West Mulholland stars in director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’.

    Ryan is the chaotic element of the movie; though we won’t exactly say how –– he’s Tyler’s new friend from school and shows a lustful interest in Chloe, one she initially indulges. Mulholland is solid in the part, particularly when called up to show the character’s more dangerous side.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Chris Sullivan and Lucy Liu in 'Presence'. Photo: Neon.
    (L to R) Chris Sullivan and Lucy Liu in ‘Presence’. Photo: Neon.

    If there’s one movie that ‘Presence’ puts me in mind of, it’s Robert Zemeckis’ recent effort ‘Here,’ whose gimmick was locking down the camera to show one room through decades and even millennia of time.

    While Soderbergh’s effort is more successful, it still doesn’t feel like a complete movie, and at times like a film school project that is on the way to working but hasn’t quite gotten to that point. A skimpy 85-minute running time means you’ll never be bored, but it also tries to cram in several different character arcs and only really has time for one of them to become satisfying.

    A sudden surprise near the end as the revelation occurs can’t compensate for what is an experiment that is noble yet crucially flawed.

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    What is the plot of ‘Presence’?

    A family moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they’re not alone.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Presence’?

    • Lucy Liu as Rebecca
    • Julia Fox as Cece
    • Chris Sullivan as Chris
    • Callina Liang as Chloe
    • Lucas Papaelias as Carl
    • West Mulholland as Ryan
    • Eddy Maday as Tyler
    Lucy Liu in 'Presence'. Photo: Neon.
    Lucy Liu in ‘Presence’. Photo: Neon.

    List of Steven Soderbergh Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Presence’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Steven Soderbergh Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘Presence’ Interview: Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan

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    Opening in theaters on January 24th is the new supernatural thriller ‘Presence’, which was written by David Koepp (‘Jurassic Park’) and directed by Oscar-winner Steven Soderbergh (‘Traffic’ and ‘The Limey’).

    Shot entirely in the first-person perspective, the movie stars Lucy Liu (‘Kill Bill: Volume 1’), Chris Sullivan (‘This Is Us’), Julia Fox (‘Uncut Gems’), Callina Liang (‘Bad Genius’), West Mulholland (‘Dark Harvest’), and Eddy Maday.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’

    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan star in 'Presence'.
    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan star in ‘Presence’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan about their work on ‘Presence’, collaborating with director Steven Soderbergh on set, navigating shooting from a first-person perspective, and Liu’s character’s different relationship with her children.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Liu, Sullivan, Callina Liang, West Mulholland, and Eddy Maday.

    Lucy Liu in 'Presence'. Photo: Neon.
    Lucy Liu in ‘Presence’. Photo: Neon.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Lucy, what was it like working with Steven Soderbergh on this film, particularly in the style in which he was shooting from the first-person perspective? And as an actor, did you have to make any adjustments to work in that way?

    Lucy Liu: It was really a dream come true working with Steven and working in this way, in this experimental fashion with this one camera being the audience and the presence was wonderful. Because I think I would prefer working with him in this manner over a traditional style of filmmaking, because it was taking a chance on something new and seeing how it worked. That’s exciting to me, because it just makes it that much more fun and interesting that you’re taking a risk with somebody who you find to be such an inspiration in that world of cinema.

    (L to R) Chris Sullivan and Lucy Liu in 'Presence'. Photo: Neon.
    (L to R) Chris Sullivan and Lucy Liu in ‘Presence’. Photo: Neon.

    MF: Chris, what was your experience like working with Steven Soderbergh, and because of the way he shot it, did you feel like the camera was another character on set?

    Chris Sullivan: Yeah, it was a unique realization. Even reading the script, I was like, okay, this is how this is going to work. Then getting on set, it wasn’t even so much the one camera, it was the type of lens that he used, which was this 14mm super wide lens. Just realizing that no matter where you are, you’re just always on camera. It took me the first day of shooting to figure out, “Okay, this is how this is going to work. Okay, we can do this”. Because even on that first day, Steven was like, “I’m not sure if this is going to work, so I guess we’ll find out.” Which was kind of thrilling, because you knew you were in the most capable hands. If anybody was going to try this and it was going to work, Steven Soderbergh was going to make it work, and he has, and it’s one of the scariest movies that’s been released in a long time. So, there you go. We’re not in Kansas anymore, baby!

    Callina Liang as Chloe in 'Presence'. Photo: Neon.
    Callina Liang as Chloe in ‘Presence’. Photo: Neon.

    MF: Finally, Lucy, Rebecca has a very different relationship with her son than she has with her daughter. Can you talk about that and what it says about the character?

    LL: I think the character is not concerned with what other people think about her. I think she is very particular about her affection towards her son. That dialogue that she has with him is almost like the horror movie itself to me, that she really is dislocated so much from her daughter and from her husband, frankly. I think the dynamic of their family and their dysfunction is what is kind of fascinating and at the same time terrifying.

    qIVA8Hh5nYXEU3DBf95qJ1

    What is the plot of ‘Presence’?

    A family moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they’re not alone.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Presence’?

    • Lucy Liu as Rebecca
    • Julia Fox as Cece
    • Chris Sullivan as Chris
    • Callina Liang as Chloe
    • Lucas Papaelias as Carl
    • West Mulholland as Ryan
    • Eddy Maday as Tyler
    (L to R) Callina Liang, Chris Sullivan, Eddy Maday, Lucy Liu and Julia Fox in 'Presence'. Photo: Neon.
    (L to R) Callina Liang, Chris Sullivan, Eddy Maday, Lucy Liu and Julia Fox in ‘Presence’. Photo: Neon.

    List of Steven Soderbergh Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Presence’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Steven Soderbergh Movies on Amazon