The Outfit (2022)

Set in 1956 Chicago, an English tailor (Mark Rylance) must outwit a dangerous group of mobsters in order to survive a fateful night. Co-written and directed by screenwriter Graham Moore (an Oscar winner for THE IMITATION GAME) in his feature film directorial debut. It's a clever crime drama with enough twists and turns to keep you riveted although the film's last ten minutes seem unnecessary and border on trite. Rylance's excellent performance is the linchpin to the film's success. He brings a necessary gravitas to the role of a tailor (or a cutter as he prefers to be called) who isn't quite what he seems. The other roles all have a bit of flashiness to them but Rylance's subdued performance gives off a quiet intensity that commands your attention. Moore maintains the claustrophobic tension by keeping all the activity contained to one set ... the tailor's shop. The film is bolstered by Alexandre Desplat's classy underscore. The fine cast includes Johnny Flynn, Zoey Deutch, Dylan O'Brien, Simon Russell Beale and Nikki Amuka Bird.