Tailor's Tightrope: Navigating the Mob's Demands in 1950s Chicago

In November 2025, a new crime thriller set in 1950s Chicago is garnering attention. The Outfit, directed by first-time filmmaker Graham Moore, follows the story of Leonard Burling, an English tailor whose primary clientele is the Irish mob.

One fateful night, Burling's world comes crashing into his tailor shop when a member of the mob, Francis, arrives with a badly injured associate, Richie Boyle. As the situation unfolds, Burling, played by acclaimed actor Mark Rylance, is drawn into a deadly game, navigating the agendas and rivalries of the various mob figures who pass through his door.

The film's single-location setting, largely confined to Burling's tailor shop, gives it a unique identity within the thriller genre. This decision, potentially driven by budget limitations, allows the audience to uncover clues in plain sight, much like a stage play. The ending reveals the recipient of a suit Burling assembles during the movie, a detail that would have worked well on a stage.

Rylance's performance as Burling is the driving force behind the film, as he portrays the tailor as a man with a soft spot for certain mob members, yet one who is also adept at turning them against each other. The supporting cast, including Johnny Flynn, Dylan O'Brien, and Simon Russell Beale, also deliver strong performances, but it is Rylance who carries the movie on his shoulders.