The Outfit REVIEW – Doesn’t Cut Deep Enough.
Mark Rylance’s Leonard is often referred to in the film as “English” because he is quiet and unassuming with a passion for suitmaking. He insists that we refer to him as a cutter and not a tailor. He begins the film by describing how he puts together a suit and how it fits him. Leonard wants to ensure that clothes reflect the true man.
Mable (Zoey Deutch), his receptionist, is the closest thing he has to his family. But she doesn’t intend on staying for too long. She dreams of seeing the world and not just the glimpses she sees in the snow globes of famous locations she collects from her family members when she meets us.
Leonard wants to avoid the machinations of local mobsters, but he cannot because they have all the power and can control everything. His shop is used for drop-offs only. We see a few sketchy men entering the shop to deposit packages in the mailbox. The mobster’s son Richie, played by Dylan O’Brien, and Francis Flynn (Johnny Flynn), will then come in to empty it as they please.
One day, things twist when they get a tape that will direct them to the rat who has been selling them out. Richie and Francis engage in a shootout before the tape can be played. This leaves the pair no choice but to flee Leonard’s shop. The man is drawn into the situation, despite his desire to remain. As the night progresses, Leonard’s shop turns into a revolving door: people are shot, fingers are pointed, and people get shot. We begin to see that clothes can mask the truth.
Rylance is the best part of this movie. His performance is amazing, from meekly and twitchy to confidently and smug. It’s wonderful to see him show his acting skills in a leading role. Deutch is competent but doesn’t have much to do in the role of Mable. She isn’t in the film as much and doesn’t portray the character’s sides in a way that makes a big impact.
It’s wonderful to see O’Brien again in movies, and he does a great job portraying Richie, the arrogant, cocky character. Teen Wolf fans will be familiar with O’Brien’s ability to portray the villain very well. However, much like Deutch’s character, O’Brien’s acting is not memorable.
Flynn is a very good actor. His portrayal of Mr. Knightley was enjoyable in 2020’s Emma. While Stardust was criticised, that had more to do with the source material than Flynn’s performance. LThefilm didn’t really give him much to work from, like O’Brien and Deutch and I wis,h we had seen more menace rather than mild exasperation.
Because there is so much back and forth about the rats, the film’s structure is intended to build tension. This is to allow viewers to guess what the plot is. Tension is only possible when there are certain stakes. I never felt afraid for Leonard throughout the film. He is never in danger by the Outfit, and there is an explanation, but it’s not as clever as the film suggests.
The Outfit features a solid cast. However, the screenplay is not very impressive and it is overall less outstanding than great. This is a real shame.
