2025

The Mastermind

AFF Film Club

A cocky young father (Josh O’Connor) regressing into the working class aims to turn his life around with a foolproof art heist. Finding his crime under-planned, he is forced on the run. The great Kelly Reichardt brings a breezy charm to the tale of an ordinary man without the chops to break free.

Director

Kelly Reichardt

Runtime

110 Minutes

Country

United States

Classification

Unclassified 15+

It’s 1970s America and everything is on the brink of change. Josh O’Connor gives a marvellous performance as a young father from a good background but now regressing into the working class.

He cockily believes he’s clocked the failures in the local art museum’s security and plans the perfect heist. Without the connections in the criminal class to build a foolproof crew, it becomes a series of missteps, and he is forced on the run. One of American’s greatest living independent filmmakers, Kelly Reichardt gives us her most accessible film. Once again, she gives shape to the inner worlds of ordinary American people.

This is a clever wry work with a wonderful production design creating moments and images for audiences to ponder long after the screen has gone dark. A film of quiet brilliance.

"Reichardt manages to turn a simple heist story into a sidelong look at an entire generation."

Deadline

“Quietly gripping.”

The Guardian

Cannes, Sydney, Melbourne

Film Credits

Director

Kelly Reichardt

Year

2025

Country

United States

Language

English

Type

Feature & Fiction

Producer

Neil KoppVincent Savino & Anish Savjani

Writer

Kelly Reichardt

Cinematographer

Christopher Blauvelt

Editor

Kelly Reichardt

Cast

Josh O’ConnorAlana HaimSterling Thompson & Jasper Thompson

Music

Rob Mazurek

Film Source

Madman Entertainment

Genre

ArtComedyCrime & Drama

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