STORYLINE: 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. (IMDb)

   The Score (2001), The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), Art and Craft (2014), and Oceams Eight (2018) all feature stealing art in some way or another as a plot point.  In the majority of the films listed, it is the main plot point, much like the new independent film The Mastermind.

    The Mastermind is not a slick heist film, like The Thomas Crown Affair, nor a compelling documentary like Art and Craft.  Rather, the film is a slow burn, thriller.  With that slow burn, one must have patience when watching the film.  It’s almost painfully slow to watch.  The film creates tension, and that tension drives the film forward.  That was a good thing to watch.

   Crafting slow paced features is not new to director Kelly Reichardt (2018” Certain Women, 2019’s First Cow).  In that slowness she crafts her stories, with much perversion. The Mastermind is not an exception to that.

   The Mastermind is a slow film that is well worth the watch.

    Until next time I will see you at the movies!