The Outfit movie review

MOVIE TITLE: The Outfit

This mysterious drama is now available on Amazon Prime Video.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 45 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B+

IN A NUTSHELL:

Leonard (Mark Rylance), a master English tailor who’s ended up in Chicago, operates a corner tailor shop with his assistant (Zoey Deutch) where he makes beautiful clothes for the only people around who can afford them: a family of vicious gangsters. One night, two killers (Dylan O’Brien and Johnny Flynn) knock on his door in need of a favor – and Leonard is thrust onto the board in a deadly game of deception and murder.

The crime thriller was written and directed by Graham Moore with writing help from Johnathan McClain. Graham Moore won his first Oscar for writing his screenplay for the movie The Imitation Game in 2014. I highly recommend that movie too, by the way!

THINGS I LIKED:

The ensemble cast is small, yet powerful and extremely effective. The movie stars Academy Award winner Mark Rylance, as well as Dylan O’Brien, Johnny Flynn, and Zoey Deutch.
Fun fact: Mark Rylance was trained in real life by the famous Huntsman tailors on Savile Row. That same tailor house is seen in the Kingsman movie franchise. Those are fun and stylish movies too! Mark Rylance’s subtle expressions are absolutely fascinating to watch.
I love titles with double meanings. In the case of this film, “The Outfit” refers to both the Chicago mafia and a suit.
The movie feels like a stage play. My husband and I wondered if the movie had been adapted from an old play because it definitely had that feel and look. We were surprised to learn that it wasn’t. Because of the way it’s written and the simple set design, I wouldn’t be surprised if theater groups start adding this to their production list.
There are plenty of twists to keep you guessing what’s going to happen next. Act 3 moves much faster with greater tension, so don’t give up if you start getting bored in the beginning.
There’s something powerful about a one-location play or movie.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

So many F-bombs. Seriously, I don’t think Dylan O’Brien had a single line without one. I get it…he’s supposed to be a tough mobster but come on! It’s abusive to make an audience sit through such excessively offensive dialogue.
Some viewers may get bored because the story takes place in one location and moves very slowly to get to the punchline.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Lots of profanity, and a zillion F-bombs.
Bloody violence
We see a dead body
Mobsters

THEMES:

Loyalty
Crime
Mafia
Power
Friendship
Betrayal
Second chances
Family

FUNNY LINES:

“If we only allowed angels to be customers, soon we’d have no customers at all.” – Leonard (Mark Rylance)

INTERESTING LINES:

“I’m not a tailor; I’m a cutter.” – Leonard (Mark Rylance)
“It’s at the finishings that you must come to terms with the idea that perfection is a necessary goal, precisely because it is unattainable. If you don’t aim for perfection, you cannot make anything great. And yet, true perfection is impossible.” – Leonard (Mark Rylance)