The Mastermind

Set in the year 1970, the film captures the early 1970s milieu of post-60s America. The era is marked by economic strain and social unrest, including anti-war protests that frame the pursuit and public fallout of the heist. The period details help ground the crime story in a recognizable, era-specific backdrop.

The film centers on a small-town Massachusetts setting in Framingham, with a local art museum and family home serving as the nerve center. The scenes also take the protagonist on road trips to Cleveland and Cincinnati, and a Toronto visit, reflecting a national-scale reach. The setting contrasts the quiet suburbia with the tension of crime and pursuit.

🕵️ Ambition

A schemer's appetite for status drives James Blaine Mooney to assemble a crew and attempt a bold art heist. The plan exposes his talent for manipulation, as he borrows money and coordinates a risky operation, chasing a personal fantasy of success. Yet the dream unravels as reality intrudes in the form of risk, betrayal, and public suspicion.

💔 Family

The heist tests family bonds and responsibilities. The father is a local judge who disapproves of his son’s choices, while the wife bears the strain and tries to shield the children from the fallout. The children—Carl and Tommy—grapple with the consequences in different ways, revealing fragility under pressure.

⚖️ Consequences

Law enforcement closes in as police and the FBI question the Mooney family. A criminal alliance breaks down, and the mastermind is exposed when associates are arrested and compelled to name him. The story culminates in pursuit, capture, and the shattering of reputations across the community, including a final, crowded confrontation with public protests.