Josh O’Connor Is at His Hangdog Dirtbag Best in The Mastermind

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In simpler terms, “The Mastermind” is a movie that explores a man named James Blaine Mooney’s journey when his charm-reliant lifestyle finally catches up with him. Most people encounter this barrier sooner rather than later, but James, who is a father, husband, and aspiring art thief, has managed to bypass challenges throughout his life due to his striking resemblance to Josh O’Connor during his most appealing phases. This movie premiered at Cannes and will be released by Mubi in theaters later. Unlike typical heist movies, “The Mastermind” doesn’t follow the usual genre rhythms; instead, the heist occurs early on, and the rest of the film focuses on the consequences that ensue after the crime. As things begin to unravel, they threaten to disrupt James’s seemingly stable life.

As a devoted admirer of Reichardt’s work, I find that “The Mastermind” is initially subtle in its impact but leaves an indelible impression once it’s digested. Her films are so immersive and candid, they seem to unfold organically, making the intricacies of their narrative structure more evident over time. For this particular film, what struck me repeatedly was how James, though present, seemed to hover above his life rather than truly inhabit it. A skilled carpenter with a strong sense of pride, he doesn’t seem to secure many projects. When his father (Bill Camp) criticizes the success of another local carpenter at the dinner table, James dismisses him, labeling his rival’s focus on accounts and schedules as a foolish waste of time – a sentiment echoed by a man who spends his days dreaming of an easy windfall. Married to Terri (Alana Haim) with two sons, James doesn’t seem fully committed to his role as a caregiver. He’s been borrowing money from his mother (Hope Davis), fabricating stories about needing equipment and supplies for jobs he doesn’t have. The year is 1970, the Vietnam War is in full swing, and protesters fill the streets, yet James barely acknowledges their presence as he goes about his life.

James isn’t a mastermind criminal, but he’s clever enough to land himself in deep trouble. His aim, revealed later, is a collection of paintings by lesser-known American artist Arthur Dove, situated in a fictional museum located in Framingham, Massachusetts. The movie begins with James surveying the scene while on a family visit, noting the asleep guard and assessing the artwork’s mounting on the walls. He even manages to secretly take a figurine from a display case. The heist appears easy for James, and thrilling – the music in the background enhances the tension, but it also becomes incongruous at times. However, James is unaware of many things he’s unaware of, and once he and his partners, Guy (Eli Gelb) and Ronnie (Javion Allen), acquire the artwork, he quickly learns a lot in a short span of time. At one point, an experienced thief warns him, ” frankly, I don’t think you considered all the consequences.

The movie “The Mastermind” is filled with earthy hues and autumn colors, from James’s preferred sweaters to the stolen paintings like “Yellow Blue Green Brown“. This soft color scheme gives a sense of conclusion, as it represents the end of the year, the ’60s, and James’s life as he knew it. O’Connor brilliantly portrays his character’s stagnant development, which is so subtle that his surprise when people tire of him becomes almost comical. When he takes refuge with friends Fred (often seen with John Magaro) and Maude (Gaby Hoffmann), we see James through their perspective, and it’s heartbreakingly sad. For Fred, James symbolizes past mistakes, but for Maude, he’s someone who failed to understand that relationships require not only taking but also giving. When Fred suggests hiding out at his brother’s commune up north, James responds, “That doesn’t sound like my kind of scene.” Even on the run, James remains self-centered, still expecting the world to offer him the opportunities he believes he deserves.

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2025-05-23 20:54