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Kelly Reichardt’s 'The Mastermind' Opens in France With a Quiet Anti-Heist Turn

Early reviews single out Josh O’Connor’s nuanced lead performance alongside a restrained dismantling of caper tropes.

Overview

  • The film reached French cinemas on February 4, introducing Kelly Reichardt’s latest genre rework to local audiences.
  • Critics describe a minimalist, behaviorist take that favors process and observation over conventional heist spectacle.
  • Josh O’Connor’s JB Mooney is widely praised for quiet intensity, with Le Nouvel Obs calling the performance “absolutely formidable.”
  • Set in 1970, the production emphasizes period exactitude with a studio-built museum and a digital image crafted to resemble 35mm film.
  • A jazzy score by Rob Mazurek is highlighted as central to the film’s subdued mood and texture.