The Mastermind
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Synopsis
In 1970, failed architect James Blaine Mooney and cohorts wander into a museum in broad daylight and steal four paintings. When holding onto the art proves more difficult than stealing them, Mooney is relegated to a life on the run.
Moviegoers are saying
Kelly Reichardt's 'The Mastermind' divides audiences with its deliberately paced character study of a hapless dreamer (Josh O'Connor) whose delusions of grandeur clash with reality. While some appreciate Reichardt's signature deconstruction of masculine tropes and genre conventions, others find the glacial pacing and underutilized cast (particularly Alana Haim) frustratingly pretentious.
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Summary generated from the text of Atom User reviews
Letterboxd User Reviews
3.2
211.7K
61.1K
45.3K
- May 24, 2025
Man on the run? More like man on a super slow leisurely walk
izzyfarina1Sep 12, 2025Your unemployed friend on a Wednesday
Emma 🔆Aug 6, 2025what if you were STUPID and BROKE and ALANA HAIM was your wife and she HATED you
olive - Dec 16, 2025
Josh O'Connor: *is foolish while jazz plays* me: applauding
David SimsJun 5, 2025Understated might be an understatement. To fully appreciate much of what Reichardt usually (but especially here) you have to understand how her deconstruction of narratives relates to her deconstruction of masculine tropes. A deadbeat dad tries to escape his feeling that…
Thomas FlightAug 31, 2025Kelly Reichardt has done it* again! * It = Crafted a quiet, observant piece about an unhappy American drifter looking for something that isn’t there. Reichardt said in a Q&A that there’s “a little Warren Oates” in Josh O’Connor and that makes me happy and I wish I’d…
Sean Fennessey - May 19, 2025
The dishevelled and disappointing Josh O’Connor cinematic universe is alive and well!
Ella KempOct 13, 2025What I love about The Mastermind’s bumbling protagonist is that he’s not bad at stealing. Our introduction to James shows a man who’s aware of his surroundings, skillfully cautious, and capable of pulling off the heist without even a hint of failure. It’s in the moments…
claira curtisOct 2, 2025first 30 minutes are a free jazzy endeavor, keeping you on your toes what to expect next. once Reichardt gives us the 5-plus-feeling-like-15-minutes sequence of O'Connor hiding the paintings in the pig stall you'll realize she might be mocking us here. maybe she thinks…
shookone
Queue Community Reviews
51%
Community 700
Top Reviews
- Jake likedThe Mastermind
I really enjoyed this for the vibes and for Josh O’Connor. I loved the setting, the cinematography, the costuming, score, everything about the visual experience. I really loved the extended shots that seemed to hang just a few seconds too long. However, the plot felt pretty dull. Thankfully,…
cassius casanova likedThe Masterminda slowburn i enjoyed because of how stylistic the film was, from the jazz music that queues up during “fast paced” scenes, the grainy tint mixed with warm lighting. the slowness gives you more time to focus on the gorgeous details. loved josh o’connor’s subtle performance as well
Boogie Astro is "meh" onThe MastermindMore like "the idiot." The acting is good, and the cinematography really makes you feel like you're in a 1970s suburb. But it's all too dull. There's no understanding of the characters, who are just "helpful" NPCs when the protagonist needs to say or do something. Meh.
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Sabrina Harrison likedThe MastermindYayyyy I love hesist movies and shows so was excited to see this one. I loved the long takes and how it was shot. Story was very simple and easy to understand but in the best way. Not sure how I feel about the ending yet but I think I liked it. Overall good movie ☺️
Jen dislikedThe MastermindSaw this movie at the mystery Monday movie and did not enjoy it at all. It’s so slow, there’s hardly any talking, and it felt like I was there for hours. I was so ready for this movie to end and checked my watch so many times. The theater groaned when it ended.
Eye Cinc likedThe MastermindAn independent film that takes its time to develop its story, and the protagonist's introspective nature makes it contemplative at times. What stands out remarkably is the seventies setting, as it looks like it was produced in those years.
- jam jammy jambam lovedThe Mastermind
From an archeologist turned grave robber to an art aficionado turned thief, Josh O’connor really can do it all. I adore the cinematography and the score. I enjoyed the backdrop of the vietnam war but i wish we delved deeper into that
Emma dislikedThe MastermindThat was a dud. It was so dry and pointless. It leaves a lot to be desired, also could have probably cut the time in half at least, there were so many scenes where it was like ok do we NEED this all in real time?
Daniel Spicer is "meh" onThe MastermindMy mastermind topic is what happens in The Mastermind because then I’ll get no questions
Atom Users Reviews
Reviews
- CSCarsten SchmidtCDCarl Dungca
Metacritic
Oct 24, 2025
If only this movie weren’t as slow as a sleepwalkng turtle. The story is constructed like one big, dark joke whose punchline isn’t worth sitting through 110 minutes to hear.
Odie Henderson
Boston Globe
Oct 24, 2025
A crime thriller with no interest in thrills and not much in crime, this is an at times frustrating character study of a guy who can’t get out of his own way.
Helen O'Hara
Empire
Oct 22, 2025
It’s a film that understands there’s nothing to be gained from making oneself an island, but remains stoic and unsentimental in its vision of the past.
Hannah Strong
Little White Lies
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Mastermind (2025) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is The Mastermind (2025)?
The movie is 1hr 50min long.
What's The Mastermind (2025) about?
In 1970, failed architect James Blaine Mooney and cohorts wander into a museum in broad daylight and steal four paintings. When holding onto the art proves more difficult than stealing them, Mooney is relegated to a life on the run.
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