What is "The Mastermind" about?

"The Mastermind" is a film directed by acclaimed filmmaker Kelly Reichardt that follows a working-class man named J.B. Mooney who impulsively decides to rob his local art museum in Framingham, Massachusetts.

How does "The Mastermind" differ from Kelly Reichardt's previous films?

Unlike Reichardt's previous films, which were mostly set in the Pacific Northwest, "The Mastermind" is set on the East Coast, where Reichardt has spent more time teaching at Bard College. The film also marks a departure from Reichardt's usual focus on character-driven stories, as it explores the aftermath of an art heist.

What inspired Kelly Reichardt to make "The Mastermind"?

Reichardt was inspired by a 1970 news story about an art museum robbery in Worcester, Massachusetts, which gave her a starting point to explore the concept of a small town supporting its own art museum. The director was also eager to shift the setting away from Oregon and experience a new landscape.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Acclaimed Director Kelly Reichardt Ventures into Unexpected Territory with "The Mastermind"

Acclaimed Director Kelly Reichardt Ventures into Unexpected Territory with "The Mastermind"

18 Oct

•

Summary

Reichardt's latest film "The Mastermind" is an art heist movie set in New England, a departure from her usual Pacific Northwest settings
The film stars Josh O'Connor as a working-class man who impulsively robs his local art museum, with Reichardt more interested in exploring his psyche than the heist itself
Reichardt was inspired to set the film on the East Coast, where she has spent more time teaching at Bard College, and to explore the concept of a small town supporting its own art museum

Acclaimed Director Kelly Reichardt Ventures into Unexpected Territory with "The Mastermind"

In October 2025, acclaimed filmmaker Kelly Reichardt surprised her fans by unveiling a new project that marked a departure from her usual Pacific Northwest settings. "The Mastermind," Reichardt's latest film, is an art heist movie set in the East Coast town of Framingham, Massachusetts.

Loosely inspired by a 1970 news story about an art museum robbery in Worcester, the film stars Josh O'Connor as J.B. Mooney, a working-class family man who ruins his life after impulsively deciding to steal from his local art museum. However, Reichardt is far more interested in exploring Mooney's psyche than dazzling the audience with heist spectacle.

The director, who spends much of her time teaching at Bard College in upstate New York, was eager to shift the setting away from Oregon, which had been the backdrop for most of her previous films. "I wanted to get out of Oregon for a bit and have a new landscape to look at," Reichardt explained in a recent interview. "Being from New York and originally from Florida, Oregon was so unique to me, but I needed a change."

Reichardt found inspiration in the original 1970 news story about the Worcester art heist, which gave her a starting point to explore the tragically dated concept of a small town maintaining its own art museum. "That size of city, the industrial town that has a little museum, that the sort of middle-class residents are keeping going, that's Massachusetts to me," she said.

With its meditative pacing and focus on character over plot, "The Mastermind" is undoubtedly a Reichardt film, even if it may seem like a departure on the surface. The director's long-time collaborators, including cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt and production designer Anthony Gasparro, helped bring her vision to life in this latest cinematic exploration.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.