REVIEW: “The Mastermind” (2025)

by

Kelly Reichardt’s new film, “The Mastermind,” could be her finest work yet. It truly showcases her talent for quiet, realistic storytelling, a hallmark of her films. While she sometimes focuses a little too much on simply observing, this strength ultimately overshadows that tendency in this captivating character study disguised as a crime thriller.

Josh O’Connor delivers another quietly powerful performance in “The Mastermind” (following “Rebuilding,” which is also worth seeing). He plays J.B. Mooney, a jobless father of two in the quiet Massachusetts town of Framingham. The film is set in 1970, and the rising opposition to the Vietnam War provides a key backdrop to the story. This historical detail not only captures the mood of the time but also mirrors J.B.’s personal struggles.

The film introduces us to J.B., his wife Terri (played with quiet charm by Alana Haim), and their sons, Tommy and Carl, at the Framingham Museum of Art. What appears to be a pleasant family day is actually a reconnaissance mission for a planned robbery. Like a modern take on the classic Thomas Crown, J.B. carefully plans the heist and assembles a team. However, when one member becomes hesitant, J.B. finds himself unexpectedly joining Guy Hickey and Ronnie Gibson to carry out the robbery himself.

As expected, the robbery isn’t perfect, but the three thieves manage to escape with four valuable paintings by Arthur Dove. They then split up, with J.B. responsible for hiding the artwork until he can find someone to buy it. This is where the main part of the movie takes place. While the film draws inspiration from classic heist movies and a real art robbery from 1972, the actual heist itself is only a small portion of the story.

Rather than focusing on the heist itself, the film explores what happens afterward, as J.B. quickly finds himself in a difficult situation. There were numerous red flags beforehand – he had to convince his mother to fund the operation, his driver backed out at the last minute, and he even forgot his children were out of school, forcing him to scramble for childcare. Despite these warning signs, he pressed on, demonstrating poor judgment and a belief in his own abilities. However, things deteriorate rapidly after the robbery, and the increasingly chaotic situation leads to unexpected twists on the typical heist genre.

Reichardt expertly portrays the complexities of J.B.’s family life. He struggles to meet his father, Bill (Bill Camp),’s high expectations, but his mother, Sarah (Hope Davis), quietly supports him, often with money. J.B.’s wife, Terri, quietly endures her frustrations, acting as the family’s quiet strength by working and managing the home despite knowing his flaws. Though her screen time is limited, Haim makes a strong impression, and I’d be eager to see a film centered around her character.

The show’s stunning 1970s setting is a major highlight, thanks to the meticulous work of production designer Anthony Gasparro and costume designer Amy Roth. Cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt’s warm, inviting visuals bring it all to life. They’ve created a truly immersive world, capturing even the smallest details of the era – from station wagon windows to Pepsi tabs and L’eggs packaging – with incredible accuracy and flair.

Overall, “The Mastermind” is a very strong film, though a few scenes run a bit long. Dedicated fans might appreciate these extended moments, but others may find them unnecessary. This is a minor issue, however, compared to the film’s intelligence and cleverness as an anti-heist story. Everything from the visuals to the acting, and especially Rob Mazurek’s fantastic jazz score, contributes to a film that discovers profound meaning in everyday life. I was captivated from beginning to end.

Read More

2025-12-09 18:58