The Outfit

Just saw it at the Berlinale and it's a very entertaining little piece of art where every detail is in the right place (or not in the right place if it needs to be) so it's really like the perfect Mystery movie, playing out with a lot of surprising twists and a slow, powerful pace without confusing or betraying the audience. Perfect, subtile acting of the whole cast. Great visual Ideas and a bit of spicy suspense and violence. It's quite so perfect, that it's funny to hear a voice over philosophy about dealing with imperfectionism during the finale of the movie. I am looking forward to see more of the director.

This is an ok film if you turn off your brain for a while. Since the first few interactions it's mostly an easy movie to predict and then everyone just becomes open to manipulate, almost as if they are children. It gets old fast and I was hoping for more of a thriller type movie. Towards the end of the movie it gets even worse. You can't leave because of this, oh yeah but what about this, then this. Ok you're right. The screen writer wrote it backwards, finding an ending he wanted and then had every character written to get to said ending without thinking of logic or motivation. Some dialogue is frustratingly bad. Then the mandatory twist ending is just garbage. If any of the reviewers were asked why they thought it's a 10/10 movie, most will say because it's different. It's basically a one room play nothing more.

The Outfit is a sleek, stylish thriller that has a fun yarn to spin. Rylance is the consummate pro and brings some real gravitas. The story has lots of twists and turns that offer plenty of surprises for even the most seasoned of viewer. Staging the whole film in one location is a bold choice, and can make it feel like a play at times, however it gives a unique feel to the film that I feel ultimately worked.

It is always a challenge to keep the audience engaged in a single location movie like a theatre. The script, pacing and amazing acting made a very enjoyable movie.

The cutting and sewing scenes are a visual delight, even more so in their accuracy; they will make you think about the quiet obsession for perfection of Phantom Thread. On this precise framework director Graham Moore cuts a bespoke story woven around a sparse yet powerful cast, in a carefully mastered whodunnit that keeps the pressure steady on to its crescendo until the final release. The mise en scene keeps the focus on the actors' dialogues, and probably pays tribute to Hitchcock's Rope, but never resulting forced. Mark Rylance plays the tailor, pardon the cutter, with a controlled aloofness, but lets shine a twinkle of inner turmoil in his eyes and the sharpness of his wit, cutting himself loose from the situation he finds himself in. Probably one of the films I've enjoyed the most so far this year.

One of those films that will garner its place on many hidden gem lists over time. I thought this was a great watch; solid script, acting, direction and a story that'll have your attention fixated throughout. Shot in one location for the whole film and not a dull moment. Lots of twists and turns that keep you glued to the screen. It has a nice solemn ambiance about it, and tells its story in a dignified and cunning manner. It's a great watch. Definitely a film that deserves more attention than I feel it currently has.

It's 1956 Chicago. Leonard Burling (Mark Rylance) is an English tailor and Mable (Zoey Deutch) is his assistant. The neighborhood is controlled by Irish Mob boss Roy Boyle. Roy's son Richie (Dylan O'Brien) and his running mate Francis (Johnny Flynn) are regular customers. Rylance is great as always. He has a nice scene with Zoey Deutch early and forms the central relationship. It takes awhile for the drama to get going but once it does, the plot keeps turning and turning. I do wonder if all the turns make sense from all sides. They are more likely to get shot than anything else. I have no specific nitpicks but I get the feeling of uncomfortably unlikely. Nevertheless, I do love Rylance and the other performers. There is real tension with some real dangers for the characters. It's a compelling thriller night.