The Outfit is one of those films that is very easy to overlook. No big franchise, no hype that builds up over time: although the directorial debut of Graham Moore, who starred for his screenplay for The Imitation Game with the Oscar awarded premiered at the Berlinale last year, it never received the attention it deserved in the months that followed.
With The Outfit we are dealing with a gangster film that is brought up in the form of a 105-minute chamber play, moving between Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and the Kingsman films. Several come in a confined space shady characters together and start a small war in a noble environment. The Outfit gets more nerve wracking with every scene.
The Outfit: When Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs gather at Kingsman Tailoring
The story takes us to Chicago in 1956. This is where he lives careful tailors Leonard (Mark Rylance) and runs a small suit shop that prioritizes quality over quantity. He’s actually from London. He made the best suits on the legendary Savile Row. As soon as he has established his new business in Chicago, rival gangster gangs are at the door.
You can watch the trailer for The Outfit here:
The Outfit – Trailer (German) HD
The entire plot of the film takes place on a fateful night when an illustrious group of gangsters enter Leonard’s store. They come to do business, to hide, or to kill. With his calm demeanor the tailor tries to keep the situation under control. But little by little there is more and more at stake – and Leonard sinks deep into the circle of criminals.
You can clearly see that this film was primarily intended as a screenplay. The dialogues sit, the twists are skillfully placed. Moore’s staging, on the other hand, seems simple and unobtrusive at first glance. Still, it’s fascinating how he progresses throughout the film Researched Leonard’s shopwhich, despite its manageable size, turns into a labyrinth through which the characters hunt.
The strongest argument for The Outfit, however, is neither the script nor the directing. Above all, one person can triumph here: main actor Mark Rylance. He carries the entire film on his shoulders and delivers a thoughtful performance that you don’t want to miss a second of. What is particularly exciting is how he brings Leonard, a modest gentleman, to life in a ruthless gangster environment.
*. . .
How did you like The Outfit?