The Outfit is one of the best films of the first half of 2022. It’s directing, writing, and acting showcase will leave you appreciating all parties involved.
The Outfit, the directorial debut from Academy Award winner Graham Moore, is a fitting example of a perfect mesh of brilliant screenwriting and performances. A film that embodies the cinematic spirit of the legendary Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope, The Outfit creates claustrophobia and tension that will keep cinephiles guessing throughout the film’s run time. It’s a crime thriller that is sure to be the right fit for all.
The Outfit follows Leonard, a tailor who operates a tailor shop on London’s Savile Row with his assistant, Mable. Because his shop offers some of the best designs at a high price range, his clientele is often those that may not have earned their riches legally. Despite having no care of what these men do, Leonard’s world turns upside down when Richie and Francis enter his shop in need of a favor – they need Leonard to sew up Richie who’s been shot. What follows is a cat and mouse game that culminates in some of the most delicate twists and turns of the year. The film’s cerebral pacing assists in turning a simple premise of a tailor trying to survive the night into a compelling Hitchcockian thriller.
The Outfit‘s ensemble fits like a glove. Mark Rylance’s subtle but effective performance keeps you at arm’s length yet never has cinephiles losing curiosity and intrigue in Leonard and his past. It’s the understated performance that few will talk about at the end of the year, but it is one of Rylance’s best takes in quite a while. While Johnny Flynn chews the scenery in most of his screen time, he fits the mold of his gangster-like persona. Dylan O’ Brien, while more subdued, is still effective as Richie.
If Rylance is best in show, Zoey Deutch is not far behind. As a fan of her since way back from 2016’s Tribeca Film Festival selection Flower, I’ve been glued to Deutch’s magnetic personality and charm in her roles. Deutch does so well in The Outfit by exuding the charisma mentioned but keeping the performance restrained. While Buffaloed remains my favorite performance of hers thus far, The Outfit is not far behind as Deutch is quickly becoming one of the best actresses working today.
Johnathan McClain and Graham Moore’s screenplay effectively keeps cinephiles at the edge of their seat. This type of “whodunit” film gives you just enough to keep viewers curious and coming up with their conclusions until the credits roll. The screenplay and Moore’s direction excites me for the future of Moore as a filmmaker. While not the biggest fan of The Imitation Game, The Outfit is undoubtedly tailored to my liking.
Top to bottom, The Outfit is one of the best films in the first half of 2022. It’s a directing/writing/acting showcase that will leave you appreciating all parties involved. In an era where Hitchcock films are often remade, The Outfit is a film that rightfully homages the director rather than copies out rightly and one that is tailor-made for cinephiles.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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About The Outfit
Leonard is an English tailor who makes suits on London’s famous Savile Row. He must outsmart a dangerous group of criminals to survive a fateful night.
The Outfit hits theaters on March 18th.
David Gonzalez is the founder and chief film critic of Reel Talk Inc. and host of the Reel Chronicles podcast. As a Cuban American independent film critic, David has written fair and diverse criticism covering movies of all genres and spotlighting minority voices through Reel Talk for the past eight years.
David has covered and reviewed films for Tribeca, TIFF, NYFF, Sundance, and several other film festivals. He is a member of New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) and the Latino Entertainment Journalists Association (LEJA).
As an avid film collector and awards watcher, David’s finger is always on the industry’s pulse. He informs and educates with knowledgeable and exciting content and has become a trusted resource for readers and listeners alike.
Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @reeltalkinc.