Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind: A Wry Spin on the Heist Genre

Kelly Reichardt, known for her distinctive indie films, returns with The Mastermind—a film that flips the script on the traditional heist story. Rather than focusing on high-stakes action or clever schemes, Reichardt zeroes in on the personal journey of a man whose attempt at crime is anything but masterful. Set against the backdrop of 1970s America, the movie uses the era’s sights, sounds, and social climate to frame a story that’s as much about self-discovery as it is about theft.

Character Over Plot: A Different Kind of Crime Story

Reichardt’s approach is all about character. The plot, while centered on a robbery, serves mainly to peel back the layers of James Mooney, played by Josh O’Connor. James, raised in comfort, carries a sense of entitlement that far outweighs his actual abilities. His in-laws see him as a disappointment, and even his patient wife, portrayed by Alana Haim, is running out of sympathy for his joblessness. In a desperate bid to prove himself, James ropes a few accomplices into a poorly planned daylight heist at a local art museum. The planning and execution are played for laughs—their scheme is riddled with flaws, and the only thing more inept than the thieves is the museum’s security. What starts as a lighthearted caper quickly unravels, sending James on a chaotic run from the law.

1970s America: More Than Just a Backdrop

The film’s setting is more than window dressing. Reichardt and cinematographer Christopher Blauvet painstakingly recreate the look and feel of the early ’70s, from the music to the muted color palette. The director herself noted,

“There is a lot going on. The Weather Underground is kicking it off, the Vietnam War is moving into Cambodia, there is a shooting at Kent State. It’s a volatile time.”

This turbulence mirrors James’s own confusion as he stumbles through a world in flux, barely noticing the historic events swirling around him. The era’s uncertainty becomes a metaphor for his own lack of direction, as he drifts from one misadventure to the next.

Performance and Visual Style

Josh O’Connor delivers a standout performance, capturing the charm and self-absorption of a man used to getting by on good looks and luck. As James’s situation spirals, O’Connor reveals the cracks in his character—the growing panic, the loss of confidence, and the realization that he’s in over his head. The supporting cast brings depth to the story, with each new character James meets offering a glimpse into different corners of American society. Reichardt’s subtle use of color and shifting visual tones adds to the film’s atmosphere, moving from playful to somber as the story demands.

A Journey Through a Changing America

James’s odyssey through the social and political landscape of the 1970s exposes him to worlds he’s never known. The people he encounters challenge his assumptions and force him to confront his own limitations. As the story builds to its unexpected finale, James finds himself swept up in the spirit of the times, his fate tied to forces far beyond his control. The Mastermind stands out as a personal drama wrapped in the trappings of a crime story, offering a fresh, ironic twist on the genre.