The Outfit is a crime drama that may be considered old-fashioned, but its cast and execution of its script may distort expectations and in this instance, that’s a good thing.
It stars Oscar-winner Mark Rylance as Leonard Burling, an English tailor, or should I say, cutter, who owns a shop in Chicago in 1956.
Leonard is an expert of his craft and we know it’s a craft because he makes it thoroughly clear in one of his narrations. He knows what to do with each suit, how long it takes to make one, the process of satisfying his customers and even hoping to teach his skills to his assistant (Zoe Deutsch).
His shop is turned upside-down when two gangsters (Dylan O’Brian and Johnny Flynn) show up wanting Leonard to guard a briefcase containing a personal item that might help them win a war against another crime family. From then on, Leonard’s shop goes from being a sanctuary to a prison.
The movie wisely and unexpectedly avoids turning into an action picture with a lot of violence and instead, becomes more cerebral as Leonard tries to figure out how he’ll survive this ordeal.
There’s also talk of a rat within the unit that visits the shop. Is Leonard the rat? Or is it his assistant? The movie proves especially effective at being more audacious with plot threads such as this one.
Rylance’s performance really sells this movie just like one of his suits. He’s in total command of every scene with a calm, matter-of-fact sensibility even when a situation might erupt into violence. He’s also existential in his approach to the character by giving us a story behind his reasons for leaving England complete with a tragedy that feels genuine, but also might suggest something sinister underneath. His work should garner another Oscar nomination.
As for the plot, there’s a lot of fudging in its structure that might frustrate some audiences while leaving others pleasantly surprised. I was in the latter.
The Outfit isn’t entirely original, but like a good suit, it fits and Rylance knows how to sell it like a good tailor should. Excuse me. He prefers the term cutter.
Grade: A-
(Rated R for some bloody violence, and language throughout.)
