The Mastermind Blu-ray Review
Josh O’Connor shines in the uneven arty heist film “The Mastermind.”
Writer/director Kelly Reichardt has a tendency to set films in Oregon, but with “The Mastermind” the filmmaker moves the setting to Massachusetts in the year 1970. The story centers around JB- a broke unemployed husband/father who steals 4 Arthur Dove paintings from an art museum alongside two accomplices. The rest of the story essentially deals with the aftermath of the heist which does not go well for JB and co. (to say the least). The FBI are on his tail, gangsters become involved, a major rift understandably occurs between JB and his wife, and JB is forced to go on the run from the law.
As a big fan of numerous Kelly Reichardt films (especially “Wendy and Lucy,” “First Cow,” and the vastly underrated “Showing Up”), I was eager to see the filmmaker tackle the heist genre in her own unique way (with a 70’s flair). For those not familiar with Rechardt’s work, she makes a lot of slow-burn intimate indie films that focus on individuals (sometimes outsiders) struggling to get by. That recurring theme certainly applies to “The Mastermind” with the JB character.
Inspired by real events, “The Mastermind” is less about the art heist and more about what happens to JB and his crew after the heist as the selfish young man’s life becomes fraught with danger. As much as he wants things to change for the better after the heist, they don’t and he basically flounders about. In fact, the whole film sort of flounders about. You’re left wanting more from the narrative rather than a character study of a man whose failures compound. Sure, the film brings a slightly different spin to the heist genre, but it all feels a bit anti-climactic.
On the plus side, the cast is aces. Rising star Josh O’Connor is in peak form here as JB. He gives a supremely nuanced performance and makes the film more compelling. O’Connor is joined by plenty of talent here including Gaby Hoffman (who should be in more movies), Hope Davis, and Alana Haim (another rising star in the movie world).
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.78:1 1080p. How does it look? The film’s 70s style visuals look crisp and clear on Blu-ray.
Audio Track: 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How do they sound? Both tracks deliver quality audio.
Extras include postcards and a 14 ½ minute video essay titled “The Mastermind: Unwinding The Heist Film.”
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