James Mooney – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

MOVIE OF THE WEEK October 17, 2025: THE MASTERMIND

October 12, 2025October 12, 2025 Jennifer Merin Alana Haim, betsy bozdech, Bill Camp, Cate Marquis, Hope Davis, James Mooney, jennifer merin, josh o'connor, Kelly Reichardt, leslie combemale, liz whittemore, loren king, motw, Movie of the Week, nell minow, sandie angulo chen, sherin nicole, The Mastermind, Worcester Art Museum

Moody and thought-provoking, writer/director Kelly Reichardt’s compelling drama The Mastermind tells the story of a not-quite-heist-ready would-be art thief in Massachusetts in the early 1970s. Featuring a stand-out performance by star Josh O’Connor and impressively authentic production values, this 2025 Cannes Palme D’Or nominee memorably explores ideas related to identity and purpose as its main character struggles to escape the weight of suburban ennui.

Reviews

THE MASTERMIND – Review by Loren King

October 5, 2025October 16, 2025 Loren King Alana Haim, Bill Camp, Cate Marquis, Hope Davis, James Mooney, jennifer merin, josh o'connor, Kelly Reichardt, motw, The Masterpiece, Worcester Art Museum

There’s the heist movie and its glorious sub-genre, the swaggering ‘70s heist movie with such diverse titles including Dog Day Afternoon, The Getaway, and even Barbara Loden’s great Wanda. With her distinct style, writer-directorKelly Reichardt delivers her own spin on that genre. It may be the heist — in this case, a horribly executed museum art theft — that catches our attention but it’s the perfect, shambling atmosphere of 1970 New England including the cars, clothes and languorous characters that keeps us enthralled.