Fisherman, family, blue-collar life, debts that pile up, and crime all swirl together in the new drama, “Finestkind” from Oscar-winning writer/director Brian Helgeland, who won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for “LA Confidential” in 1998. Helgeland’s done a ton since, writing the Oscar-winning “Mystic River” for Clint Eastwood, “Man on Fire” for Tony Scott, and directing the Jackie Robinson biopic “42,” “Legend” with Tom Hardy, and now, “Finestkind.”
“Finestkind” stars Ben Foster, Toby Wallace, Tommy Lee Jones, and Jenna Ortega, and it’s a crime drama about a crew of fishermen who tread dangerous waters after their debts start piling up. The film also features a pretty big ensemble cast, including “Lord Of The Rings: Rings Of Power” star Ismael Cruz Cordova, Aaron Stanford, Scotty Tovar, Tim Daly, Lolita Davidovich, and Clayne Crawford.
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Coming off “Wednesday,” Ortega will land a lot of headlines. Still, the one to watch here is Toby Wallace, a young, British-born Australian actor, who is really on the rise and seems poised to be the next big Austin Butler-like young star (he stars next in the “Bikeriders”). While crime is the MacGuffin of the movie, “Finestkind” really centers on family and the two estranged brothers at the core of the picture (Foster and Wallace) and their father (Tommy Lee Jones).
Here’s the official synopsis:
FINESTKIND tells the story of two brothers (Foster and Wallace), raised in different worlds, who are reunited as adults over a fateful summer. Set against the backdrop of commercial fishing, the story takes on primal stakes when desperate circumstances force the brothers to strike a deal with a violent Boston crime gang. Along the way, a young woman (Ortega) finds herself caught perilously in the middle. Sacrifices must be made, and bonds between brothers, friends, lovers, and a father (Jones) and his son are put to the ultimate test.
Also starring Ismael Cruz Cordova, Aaron Stanford, Scotty Tovar, Tim Daly, Lolita Davidovich and Clayne Crawford, FINESTKIND is produced by Gary Foster and Russ Krasnoff of Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment, Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan of Bosque Ranch, David C. Glasser of 101 Studios and in association with MTV Entertainment Studios. The film is executive-produced by Jennifer Roth, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, and Bob Yari and co-produced by Joseph Micucci.
Taylor Sheridan is a producer on the film along with his 101 Studios gang and cohorts like Ron Burkle and Bob Yari, and the story definitely seems to be some of his sensibilities.
“Finestkind” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last month in early September, and Paramount+ will premiere the drama on December 15 on its streaming service. Watch the new trailer below.