Displaying items by tag: Amanda Plummer

THE MASTERMIND

US, 2025, 110 minutes, Colour.

Josh O'Connor, Sterling Thompson, Alana Haim, Jasper Thompson, Bill Camp, Hope Davis, John Magaro, Gabby Hoffman, Amanda Plummer..

Directed by Kelly Reichardt.

Many films specialists, noting the information, written and directed by Kelly Reichardt, is sufficient for them to want to see this film. (Over 30 years, Kelly Reichardt has directed only 10 feature films and a number of short films but has built up a reputation with a range of American stories, often with a focus on women, but also offering food for reflection on American history and society.

And this continues with this film, a museum robbery, specifically inspired by the 1972 robbery of the Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts, in which two Gauguins, a Picasso, and a Rembrandt were stolen. Her interest, however, is not so much in the robbery but on the character, the mastermind of the title (though, looking at his career, the title is quite ironic), his behaviour in the aftermath of the robbery and exposure. Some commentators refer to the film as an “anti-heist” film.

The setting is 1970, upheaval in the United States at the end of the 60s, social unrest, but, especially, the background of the war in Vietnam.

The central character is played by Josh O’Connor, busy with releases in 2025, The History of Sound as well as Wake Up Dead Man. He is a family man, a carpenter, unemployed, in need of money, planning the stealing of artwork from the local gallery, hiring three petty criminals, not vetting them in any mastermind kind of way, their exposing him, his trying to rationalise, his wife leaving him with the family, his wanting money from his mother, his father a judge critical about the lack of ambition of the thieves.

The mastermind is abducted by the criminals, gets away, but with public knowledge about his crime, he begins an odyssey, getting lifts, trying to survive, lack of money, going to a friend from the past but moved on by the friend’s wife, his continuing on the road and an uncertain ending as he steals a woman’s purse, tries to escape through the Vietnam war protest and is elected arrested.

Many audiences, Kelly Reichardt fans, welcomed the film. For many others, even some who admire Kelly Reichardt, have found the film difficult to sit through, the pace, the unsympathetic central character… (Which was the experience of this reviewer.)

1. The title, for James Mooney, accurate, ironic?
2. The 1970s setting, social upheaval in the US, financial difficulties, the background of the Vietnam war? Re-creation of the period? The musical score?
3. The initial plot, Mooney, the stealing of the car, the backing out of the driver, his choice of the two colleagues, the plan to steal the art, at the gallery, removing the paintings? His associates, Gibson and his rations, pulling the gun, later robbing the bank? Guy asking for more money?
4. Mooney at home, his wife, family, relationship with Tommy? His mother and giving him money? His father, judge? His comments about the lack of initiative by the thieves?
5. Mooney, having to cope with situations, sending his wife and family away, keeping his son, taking with him? The confrontation with Guy? The setup, the criminals, the abduction? The consequences?
6. Mooney, getting away, on the road, money, surviving, his situation becoming public? The alienation of his wife, the phone calls?
7. Going to stay with his friend, Fred and his wife, their life together, memories of the past, Fred and his wariness, the wife, her making the connection with the professor to act as a fence for the paintings, his being sent away?
8. His plans, on the road, stealing the woman’s purse, trying to escape through the Vietnam war protesters, his being arrested? And then?