The Outfit (2022 film) Stars Mark Rylance and Zoey Dutch

 "The Outfit" is a psychological crime thriller set in gangster riddled Chicago, 1956.   Mark Rylance stars as Leonard Burling, a mild mannered, meticulous "cutter" of men's hand made suits.  The Tony, Oscar and BAFTA winning actor, Rylance makes this well acted and shrewdly written film worth watching.   It's written for the screen by Graham Moore (Imitation Game) in his directorial debut and Johnathan McClain.  The film has the feel of a stage production.  The tightly filmed story unfolds unhurried within Leonard's shop.  British native Leonard is irreverantly dubbed "English" by the flashy, fast talking young thugs who use Leonard's innocuous shop to run their nefarious dealings.  Leonard focuses myopically on the very detailed oriented steps required to comprise a perfectly fitted suit.  The laborious process of measuring, cutting and stitching are elaborated and demonstrated by Leonard instilling a calming, reassuring affect.  Leonard is perceived as methodical and forlorn. He and his secretary, Mable (Zoey Deutch) work companionably together.  Mable is envious of Leonard's life abroad. She's determined to travel far from Chicago's frozen tundra.  The first two thirds of the movie moves ploddingly.   Francis (Johnny Flynn) and Richie (Dylan O'Brien) are tough guys with more brash than brains.  Both relish their roles as heir apparent to the head honcho.  Richie is son to the head of the Irish mob.  Francis is obsessed with being Roy's lackey.  Having taken "6 marbles for Roy" Francis feels he's earned the top spot.  Richie makes it clear that isn't how it works.  What's puzzling is whose leaking information on the mob's activities.   Things take a dastardly turn when Francis and Richie show up late at night.  Richie is (bleeding from the abdomen from a gunshot. (It's enigmatic how blood never stains Richie's trousers). Francis holds a gun at Leonard coercing him to sew up the wounds.  Leonard is also ordered to protect the contents of an attache with a tape which should point the finger at the snitch.   Tempers flare.  Francis and Richie pull guns on one other while accusations fly.   A Hitchcock twist folds over this volatile, outdated tale that never quite goes out of style.  Rylance is impeccable in his role.  Deutch is perfect as the 50's self-reliant, ingenue.  Both Flynn and O'Brien look and act the parts of dapper delinquents.  And, Simon Beale as mob daddy, Roy, and his not too bright, gun totting enforcer add luster to the look and feel of the production.  The  costume design and cinematography along with a first rate ensemble bring a compelling fit to make this well-worn genre feel updated and spiffy.  I recommend viewing this superbly crafted crime drama that wears like cashmere on a chilly night.