New Gangster Movie Starring Mark Rylance Is Being Hailed As A ‘Masterpiece'

A new gangster movie starring Mark Rylance is being hailed a ‘masterpiece’ by viewers and critics alike, having landed on streamer Peacock after being released in cinemas earlier this year. 

Set in 1950s Chicago, The Outfit is a crime thriller following English tailor Leonard Burling as he attempts to outsmart a group of gangsters.

Alongside Rylance, the ensemble cast features the likes of Zoey Deutch, Johnny Flynn, Dylan O’Brien, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Simon Russell Beale. 

A synopsis from Focus Features says: “From the Academy Award-winning writer of The Imitation Game (Graham Moore) comes The Outfit, a gripping and masterful thriller in which an expert tailor (Academy Award winner Mark Rylance) must outwit a dangerous group of mobsters in order to survive a fateful night.”

After having its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in February this year, the movie was released in US cinemas the following month before it was added to Peacock - where it’s picked up a whole new wave of fans. 

Many people have shared their appreciation for the movie, from glowing critics’ reviews to positive reaction on social media. 

Twitter user @HarisGala shared a thread of ‘top 10 movies you need to watch to appreciate cinema’, concluding the list with The Outfit. 

In their summary, they wrote: “A theatre like experience in a movie. A movie based on a single setting in the form of a tailor shop impresses you with a witty script and plenty of twists and turns. Pretty close to a masterpiece and a rare gem just gone unnoticed. Smart acting and writing.”

Someone else tweeted: "THE OUTFIT is on Peacock, and it's a smart little gangster thriller with some great tension. The visual direction is as simple as the plot is complex. Fabulous acting work from Mark Rylance."

A third wrote: "There is a crime drama on Peacock called The Outfit. Beautifully shot, taunt little story and keeps it popping til the last second. Highly recommend it."

Writing for Empire, film critic Olly Richards concluded in his review: "The Outfit follows a pattern set by countless gangster flicks of the past, but its freshness is in the intelligence and surprise of the script. Like a well-made suit, it’s not old-fashioned - it’s classic."

When the film was released in cinemas, Collider's Hilary Remley compared it to Knives Out, saying it was a 'concise, and crowd-pleasing mystery'.

"The script, penned by Moore and Johnathan McClain, very much feels like an ode to literature greats, with references to Oscar Wilde, Shakespeare, and even a glorious allusion to Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart," Remley said.

"Naturally, with Moore’s background as an author, it makes sense that he would utilize these elements to build his own great tale. It’s reminiscent of British mysteries and classic single-location plays, and The Outfit would actually be a brilliant work to adapt for the stage."