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Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind Opens, Drawing Praise for Josh O’Connor and Its Anti-Heist Approach

Critics describe a 1970-set character study that replaces caper beats with patient observation anchored by O’Connor’s turn.

Overview

  • The film expands in cinemas from Oct. 24 after a festival run that included a competition slot at Cannes.
  • Set in Massachusetts in 1970, the story follows JB Mooney, who engineers the theft of four Arthur Dove paintings and then unravels in the fallout.
  • Reviews single out Rob Mazurek’s jazzy score, Christopher Blauvelt’s autumnal cinematography, and Anthony Gasparro’s period design for richly evoking the era.
  • Reaction notes deliberate pacing and sparse exposition, with several critics finding some supporting roles—especially Alana Haim’s Terri—underwritten.
  • Coverage highlights production choices such as shooting Ohio locations to double for New England and cites loose inspiration from a 1972 Worcester museum theft, with some reviews noting timely resonance after the recent Louvre break-in.