Set in the 1950s, The Outfit tells a tale of an innocent English tailor working to survive the night after a well-known gang involves him in their activities.
★★★★✰
There have been many takes on the old-school gangster drama genre, aiming to compete with the likes of classics such as The Godfather and Goodfellas. The Outfit, however, is an exceptionally strong competitor.
Set in 1956, Chicago, the film follows Englishman Leonard Burling (Mark Rylance), a subdued, timid man who works as a tailor. He is extremely meticulous in his craft and serves a clientele of loyal customers. Things are going well for Leonard until hot-headed gang members Richie (Dylan O’Brien) and Francis (Johnny Flynn) discover there is an informant amongst them, which pulls Leonard into their criminal antics if he wants to avoid being killed. If that wasn’t bad enough, the gang are receiving letters from a mysterious group called ‘The Outfit’ at the same time, who are saying they are watching their every move, further increasing paranoia amongst the group.
Dick Pope’s cinematography here is fantastic. Set purely within the tailor shop, action in The Outfit is contained to around four rooms. This simplistic yet gripping approach gives the film an intense intimacy and, considering the circumstances with the gang, ratchets up the stakes at times. There are many scenes where characters begin interrogating each other as a result of extreme paranoia. The stark lighting adds a dramatic flair, and the close-up shots of Richie and Francis in particular allow their emotions to be conveyed very well.
The script is on par with the cinematography. The range of characters used in one small tailor shop allowed personalities to shine through. There are multiple foreshadowing moments and symbolism throughout, and the film is full of mystery. There is a lot to uncover, and warrants repeated viewings.
Mark Rylance’s performance as a shy tailor with a surprisingly complex backstory is fantastic. The way he portrays his character is brilliantly done. For such a timid, quiet character, he is surprisingly calm and collected during intense moments of life and death with the gang, which is an unexpected contrast that worked very well together.
Dylan O’Brien’s performance is also astounding to see. This role seems to be his first as a villain, and he delivered it very well. His character is full of anger as well as pride, but ultimately he wants to make his father proud. His confidence and use of chilling eye contact made him the perfect fit for a gang member in the fifties. Alongside him was the arguably more villainous out of the two, Francis, who does a great job at portraying a completely stone-cold killer. His menacing looks and calm persona make him an amazing fit for the role as well, and the two of them work very well together, especially in how they contradict Leonard’s peaceful persona.
The Outfit’s combination of beautiful writing, impressive cinematography and astounding actors makes this one of the best releases of the year so far.
The Verdict
The Outfit is a fresh, new take on crime drama. It is thrilling and exciting, and it is hard to predict the twists and turns that it has along the way, making it an absolutely brilliant watch.
Words by Connie Burke
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