Watch The Outfit

The Outfit is a gripping crime drama directed by Graham Moore in his directorial debut. The film stars the inimitable Mark Rylance in the lead role, alongside a talented cast including Zoey Deutch and John Gumley-Mason. Set in the 1950s in Chicago, the movie paints a picture of a city rife with gangsters, corruption, and the constant hum of a criminal underworld that permeates across the city’s dark, shadowy streets.

Mark Rylance plays Leonard, a meticulous and skilled English tailor (or "cutter," as he prefers to be called) with a mysterious past who now operates a small, bespoke tailoring shop in Chicago. His clients are a mix of well-to-do gentlemen and dangerous mobsters, to whom Leonard provides finely crafted suits. Having left a different life behind in London, Leonard focuses keenly on his craft, seeking to create the perfect outfit for his clients while maintaining a semblance of neutrality in a world filled with vice and violence.

Zoey Deutch portrays Mable, the shop’s resourceful secretary and telephone operator. Quick-witted and observant, she's more than just a passive observer to the dealings that happen within the walls of the tailor shop. Mable's character provides a fascinating dynamic within the story, assisting Leonard in navigating the precarious tightrope walk between serving his clientele and preserving his own safety.

John Gumley-Mason is cast in a supporting role, adding to the atmospheric tension and intricate web of relationships that form the foundation of the narrative. Rich characterizations and layered performances from the ensemble cast are central to the film's experience, providing nuance to the story's unfolding drama.

The Outfit masterfully weaves a narrative of deception, loyalty, and survival. The film stands out with its unique setting, turning the small confines of the tailor's workshop into a stage for a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. As the story unfolds, the shop becomes a crucible for the convergence of various factions of the underworld, each seeking to leverage their power and influence to outmaneuver the other.

The suspense builds steadily throughout the film, as secrets are hidden among the fine fabrics, and the characters' true motivations are concealed like so many notes in the linings of their pockets. Leonard, with his keen eye for detail and quiet observance, finds himself caught in an escalating situation that threatens to unravel the careful threads of his composed existence.

The Outfit is as much a character study as it is a crime thriller. The careful attention to the period-specific setting, the textures of the cloth, the quiet buzz of the sewing machine; all serve to envelop the viewer in an immersive cinematic experience. The film’s narrative hinges on the unassuming and absorbing character of Leonard, whose complexities and depth are masterfully portrayed by Rylance. His performance is subtle yet powerful, carrying the film's emotional weight and offering a study in restraint and precision that mimics his character's craftsmanship with fabric.

Director Graham Moore, who previously won an Academy Award for his screenplay for "The Imitation Game," brings his talent for storytelling to the director's chair with great effect in The Outfit. His direction is precise and calculated, much like Leonard’s stitches, ensuring that each frame advances the suspenseful and intricate plot without overwhelming the audience. Moore creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that grips the audience, ensuring that they hang onto every thread of the story as it carefully unravels.

The Outfit isn't just a standard crime film; it is a layered tale that explores themes of identity, the masks people wear, and the lengths one will go to preserve their own notion of honor amidst moral decay. The narrative probes the audience to question who the characters truly are underneath the finely tailored veneers they present to the world.

From the moment the camera first sweeps across the tailor's shop until the final, heart-pounding moments, The Outfit enthralls its audience with a medley of suspense, meticulously crafted narrative turns, and immersive period detail. The dialogue is sharp and feels authentic to the time period, and the musical score complements the film’s tense moments and heightens the emotional impact of the quieter ones.

As a movie that relies on its strong storytelling and character-driven plot rather than high-octane action sequences, The Outfit is a refreshing entry into the crime genre. It is a cinematic gem that demonstrates how a confined setting and a tight-knit cast can deliver a compelling and engaging narrative that lingers in the mind long after the credits have rolled.

The Outfit is a 2022 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 69.