THE OUTFIT (2022)

THE OUTFIT (2022)

Tagline: Everyone Has Something Up Their Sleeve

(Crime, Mystery, Gangsters) [R]

English, I didn't cut the boss' pants too short, I shot his son in the face.

When it comes to Focus Features, they have a LOT of train wreck dumpster fire artsy nonsense seemingly designed to confuse deep thinkers and literally bore the rest of us to death, but they also have several diamonds in the rough. So which of the two is this one? 

The story revolves around a cutter named English in 1950s Chicago. The suits he makes aren’t cheap, so the people that can afford them are often gangsters and politicians. After a mob boss’s son named Richie is shot, English gets dragged into a series of events where nothing is what it seems. 

One thing I really liked about this movie was Mark Rylance (THE BFG) who plays English in this does narration. His name is actually Leonard, but everyone calls him English. Rylance’s voice isn’t iconic like Morgan Freeman’s or James Earl Jones, but it does provide a certain level of comfort like a grandfather telling their grandkids a story. His role in this is superb. I also love that this was set in the 1950s. It’s one of my favorite eras period, and I have a deep love for 1950’s films in general. The story keeps you guessing as to how the events will unfold and whose motives are good or bad. This thing is loaded with glorious misdirection and a lot of really interesting little details that don’t get unraveled until the final act. I wouldn’t call this a full-blown mystery, it’s really not, it’s more of a masterfully crafted twisty dialog-driven crime thriller. 

Regarding the acting, Zoey Deutch (NOT OKAY) takes on the role of Mable. English is kind of teaching her some of the ropes when it comes to suit-making but she makes it pretty clear she just wants to work there and then go see the world, not make it her life. Her ungratefulness towards English is nauseating. It doesn’t make you a strong female character to bash someone that is genuinely trying to look after you. It just makes you incorrigible and annoying. I am all about boundaries, but Mable is a bit much. Having said that, this is still a better role for Zoey than her role in NOT OKAY. Professionally for her, this was probably a great move. Dylan O'Brien (LOVE AND MONSTERS) is great as Richie with not a ton of screen time. I can’t stand his character either, but we are dealing with mobsters and such, so that is to be expected. Johnny Flynn (THE SCORE) plays Francis and just nails this role. His duplicitous nature is sheer perfection and he dominates every shot he’s in.  Nikki Amuka-Bird (A KNOCK AT THE CABIN) plays La Fontaine and gets very little screen time, but she is solid. To round out the main cast, Simon Russell Beale (DEATH OF STALIN) plays Roy and makes a perfect gangster and Mark Rylance who plays English is superb as the film's lead. 

When it comes to pacing this one is a bit slow to start, but once it gets going the fact that it’s keeping you guessing the whole way draws you in and doesn’t let go till the credits roll. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a few issues. 

The wrap-up and the setup seem like two puzzle pieces that appear to fit but don’t quite fit. Then when you get to the end of the puzzle you have to try and find the piece that didn’t quite fit, but you forced it so you are kind of screwed. That is what’s going on here. The plot all works for the most part, but there is that one weird piece where you are kind of like… “well, it is what it is”. 

This might be one of those movies you overlooked, but if you like twists and turns and intrigue, this thing is really good. I give this one a 5 out of 7. It always helps if you have more than one character you like. Just that would have bumped this up to a 6.

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