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The Mastermind
2025 110 min United Kingdom, United States of America R 12+
★6.9
Crime, Drama
Director: Kelly Reichardt
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Description
In a sedate Massachusetts suburb circa 1970, unemployed family man and amateur art thief J.B. Mooney sets out on his first heist. With the museum cased and accomplices recruited, he has an airtight plan. Or so he thinks.
US Gross:
$1.1M
Starring
Josh O'Connor
Actor
Sterling Thompson
Actor
Alana Haim
Actor
Awards
Cannes Film Festival 2025
— Palme d'Or
Key opinion
The Mastermind is a polarizing character study that favors slow-burn, contemplative observation over traditional heist thrills. While its atmospheric 1970s aesthetic and Josh O'Connor's performance receive praise, the film's glacial pacing and lack of narrative momentum frustrate many viewers.
| Acting | Josh O'Connor delivers a nuanced, compelling performance as the deeply flawed and detached protagonist. | |
| Production | The film utilizes a detailed, authentic 1970s period aesthetic that successfully builds a specific mood. | |
| Screenplay | The film intentionally subverts heist genre expectations by prioritizing character study over action, leading to a thin plot and a lack of narrative resolution. | |
| Pacing | The slow-cinema approach creates a meditative experience for indie enthusiasts, while mainstream viewers find the pacing tedious and exhausting. | |
| Score | The jazz-fusion and experimental score creates a divisive atmosphere, with some finding it striking and others describing it as clashing or irritating. |