Hard to believe this was the directorial debut of screenwriter Graham Moore, it’s just so self-assured, palpably atmospheric, and meticulously crafted.  With the self-contained feel of a play, almost the entire film is set inside master cutter Mark Rylance’s shop.  Over the years, he has been used as a conduit for criminal correspondence, with gangsters popping in to drop off and pick up messages.  Rylance’s assistant is a stunning, sharply-witted young woman who is casually dating one of the heavies who frequents the establishment (the son of the requisite mob boss), and Rylance is protective of her in a paternal way.  When an off-premises shootout occurs, the boss’s son and mob counterpart (a newly risen member who has worked his way into becoming the boss’s favorite) show up, with one of them wounded by gunfire, seeking the sewing ability of Rylance to stitch up the wound.  From there, the film just settles more and more comfortably into its identity as a multi-layered, twisting narrative that keeps one guessing into the final frame, much like The Usual Suspects.  A refreshingly original film with myriad memorable moments, a standout screenplay, and a first-class performance from Rylance.  A contemporary classic.