The Outfit

 2.5/4

Starring: Mark Rylance, Zoey Deutch, Johnny Flynn, Dylan O'Brien, Simon Russell Beale

Rated R for Some Bloody Violence, and Language Throughout

"The Outfit" is one of those thrillers that in trying to be too clever ends up being not nearly as clever as it thinks it is.  Co-writer/director Graham Moore is so desperate to shock and surprise his audience that he ends up resorting to cliches.  I don't want to give away spoilers to illustrate what I mean, but suffice it to say that there are movies that have travelled down this path before.

Leonard Burling (Rylance) is a quiet, unassuming tailor (or "cutter," as he prefers) living and working in Chicago in 1956.  He is known for not only his talent, but his discretion.  Inquiring too much about the lives of your customer, especially when they are armed and seem to wear the occupation of "mobster" as a badge of honor, is a surefire way to lose your shop (or your head).  He has a lovely receptionist named Mable (Deutch) who is desperate to get out of Chicago and see the world.  One night, two of his regular customers, Ritchie (O'Brien) and Francis (Flynn) enter into his shop late at night.  Ritchie is badly wounded and they're both looking for a tape that could either ice the competition or lead to their downfall. Tensions are running high as it becomes obvious that there is a traitor in their midst.  But who is it?

One of the reasons the film works is because of Mark Rylance.  The British legend is perfectly cast as a tailor that no one could possibly be suspicious of.  That's actually the problem because we know that those are the ones to be suspicious of.  It becomes clear fairly early on that Leonard is playing everyone against each other, which undercuts a lot of the film's tension.  To what end remains a mystery, so I blame the writing for this.  Leonard is at the film's nexus and, in his own meek way, Rylance dominates every scene he is in.  Teen heartthrob Dylan O'Brien isn't quite macho enough to pull off the role of a gangster, but he has his moments.  His co-star, Johnny Flynn, is more successful.  And Zoey Deutch is as adorable as ever.

I liked the film's look.  I liked how it seemed set, at times, in its own little world.  In a strange way, I was reminded of "Pinocchio."  The film takes place entirely in Leonard's shop, but Moore fails to utilize this effectively.  There isn't a lot of claustrophobia to be found here.  It's a bit too understated.  Perhaps it might have worked better as a stage play than a film.

It's not that the film's twists are obvious.  More than one or two caught me by surprise.  It's just I was aware that I was being intentionally deceived. What separates a good mystery like "Se7en" and one like "The Outfit" is that we don't sense that the director is playing us.  I knew right from the start that what I was seeing wasn't the whole truth, so instead of being kept wondering what the truth is, I was waiting for the film to start showing its cards.

"The Outfit" is by no means a bad film.  Those who watch it won't waste their time (if nothing else, Mark Rylance is simply a joy to watch).  But it is disappointing.

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