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| Mark Rylance in "The Outfit" Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
One of the most interesting things to see in moviemaking is when a screenwriter tries his or her hand at directing. After writing the words that will be performed on film, the next big step would be to direct the stories that you’ve scribed. Some of the finest examples include Ben Affleck, Alex Garland, and Paul Schrader. Being able to see a screenwriter evolve into a director and see that they have the talent for the latter every bit as much as the former is always a wonderful experience.
Screenwriter Graham Moore, who’s most famous for his screenplay for Morten Tyldum’s 2014 historical drama, “The Imitation Game,” is the latest to join this trend with his directorial debut, “The Outfit.” It’s a crime drama that doesn’t play out like your usual film from this genre, keeping you on your toes and knocking you down at every turn.
In 1956 Chicago, Leonard Burling (Mark Rylance) is a tailor whose main customers are in organized crime. One night, events play out that have Leonard stuck in a dangerous plot with Irish mobsters, and he’ll have to outsmart them if he’s going to live to see the next day.
Rylance shows his character’s methodical thinking as Leonard sets about his tasks, bringing to life a person whose mind is always going and knows how to find the finer details of his work and everything else around him. Between Leonard’s intelligence and calm demeanor, Rylance displays him as someone’s who’s more than capable of handling pressure, even when his life is on the line. There’s a soft toughness that Rylance exhibits in his character, and seeing him use this in his techniques to outsmart his enemies is both tense and satisfying to witness. There are some surprises as to what Leonard’s capable of doing, and the way in which Rylance pulls them off shows his ability to portray someone who has so much more to him that we expect.
The supporting cast provides great work as characters who become involved in this perilous night. There’s Zoey Deutch as Mable Shaun, Leonard’s resourceful receptionist; Dylan O’Brian as Richie Boyle, the suave, rough-around-the-edges gangster and his father’s second-in-command; Johnny Flynn as Francis, Richie’s volatile associate and the chief enforcer of the Boyle crime family; and Simon Russell Beale and Nikki Amuka-Bird as Roy Boyle and Violet LaFontaine, the leaders of two rival gangs who can show an intense display of command just by walking around a room.
The screenplay by Moore and Johnathan McClain has the story take place in one setting over the course of one night. They use both aspects to their fullest by populating them with engaging characters who take part in one tense interaction after another. Between these exchanges, the story does well in establishing the kind of environment in which Leonard works, letting you know the dangers on the streets, despite remaining inside for the whole movie. The intriguing setup to the main conflict is enticing enough, but after a big turning point halfway through, we see that this story isn’t going to play out like we expect. From there, as Leonard faces several deadly complications, the story places on layers of deceit that lead to some revelations that add up to a gripping finale.
As a director, it’s clear that Moore picked up a few things while working with Tyldum on “The Imitation Game,” even recruiting that movie’s editor, William Goldenberg. His editing is as precise as Leonard’s suit-making, keeping the flow of the nerve-racking confrontations going as we remain on edge to see who’ll survive the night. Meanwhile, Dick Pope’s cinematography makes wonderful use of closeups, allowing us to read the faces of the characters to figure out what truths they’re hiding.
With a small cast, one setting, and a narrow timeframe within the story, it’s clear that Moore can make the most out of what he has when trying to deliver an intriguing thriller, and by doing so, “The Outfit” shows that he’s tailor-made for filmmaking.
Grade: A
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