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Josh O’Connor Anchors Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind, Now in Theaters

Reviews emphasize a restrained character study that reflects 1970s political unrest.

Overview

  • Set in Massachusetts around 1970, the film follows JB Mooney, a privileged yet inept family man who turns to art theft.
  • The planned heist targets works by Arthur Garfield Dove, echoing the real 1972 Worcester Art Museum theft.
  • Critics note Reichardt’s anti‑genre approach with slow, precise pacing, a jazz score by Rob Mazurek, and muted period visuals shot by Christopher Blauvelt.
  • Central concerns include male entitlement, unrealized ambitions, and the pull between private isolation and social responsibility.
  • O’Connor’s performance draws particular praise for rendering Mooney sympathetic, as Reichardt dismisses Cannes-era attempts to equate the character with Donald Trump.