Tag: The Mastermind

Oscar Predictions: The Mastermind

Kelly Reichardt, acclaimed director of Night Moves, Certain Women, and First Cow, has premiered The Mastermind at Cannes. Dubbed as a heist movie where most of the story takes place post heist, Josh O’Connor is an art thief circa 1970. The supporting cast includes Alana Haim, John Magaro, Hope Davis, Bill Camp, Gaby Hoffman, and Amanda Plummer.

With distribution from Mubi, this is generating approving notices in France with 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 73 Metacritic. That said, Reichardt has yet to enter into the Academy’s consciousness and I doubt The Mastermind will change that. Unless Mubi mounts an amazing Best Actor campaign for O’Connor, my takeaway is that this won’t be a contender despite the good natured reactions (especially for him). My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: The History of Sound

The History of Sound features Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor as musicians involved in a romance during the World War I era. Costars include Chris Cooper, Molly Price, Raphael Sbarge, and Hadley Robinson. The Cannes premiere is from Oliver Hermanus, who last directed Bill Nighy to a lead Actor nom for 2022’s Living.

Unlike A Complete Unknown from the previous ceremony, don’t expect this folk song heavy drama to be a major Academy contender. Plenty of reviews are respectful, but this is not a festival breakout with 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 62 Metacritic. Mescal and O’Connor could have other opportunities this year with Hamnet and The Mastermind respectively. Sound is unlikely to offer their names for consideration. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…