Kelly Reichardt’s quietly observational heist film, set in 1970s Massachusetts, presents a deeply realistic and unglamorous portrayal of an art gallery robbery. The film’s protagonist, James, played with a mix of vulnerability and charm by Josh O’Connor, is a hapless art school dropout and would-be architect. Married with two young sons, he borrows large sums of money from his aristocratic family under false pretenses to fund an audacious theft.
James recruits two tough criminals and a getaway driver to steal four paintings by American artist Arthur Dove from a local gallery, storing the loot at a farmhouse. However, his inability to plan beyond the robbery itself—including how to sell the stolen art—leads to disastrous consequences. Reichardt’s restrained, naturalistic style emphasizes the grim reality of the crime, avoiding the glamorization typical of heist movies, and focusing instead on the chaotic aftermath as James tries to evade justice.
The film’s earthy color palette and absence of dramatic soundtrack contribute to its stark realism. The narrative highlights James’s futile dreams and the brutal reality of his situation, reflecting on themes of failure and desperation amid 1970s America’s social and political turmoil.
Reichardt’s The Mastermind stands apart from other art heist films such as Museum or American Animals by its understated approach and its focus on the mundane but harrowing consequences of crime. The film’s real strength lies in its detailed depiction of life after the heist and the poetic justice that follows.
Josh O’Connor’s portrayal recalls his role in La Chimera (2023), where he also played a flawed character involved in antiquities theft, though there he was more physically hardened and knowledgeable. Reichardt’s earlier work, Showing Up, similarly explored the everyday struggles of artists, emphasizing the importance of routine over romanticized inspiration. In The Mastermind, it is the dreary fallout from the crime that commands attention, making the film quietly compelling.
The Mastermind was screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
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