Finestkind (2023): A high Seas Western

Written and directed by Brian Helgeland (Legend, Payback) Finestkind is really a high seas western sans horses and dry land. Starring Ben Foster, Toby Wallace, Jenna Ortega and Tommy Lee Jones, the film spends quite a bit of its two hour and six minute run time, setting up the main characters.

Moving at a snails pace, the movie works hard to build up the relationships between all the characters. There is a certain amount of stereotypical scenarios and Hollywood clichés that aid in this endeavor. There are signposts aplenty that make the ending events of the film no surprise to the viewer.

The performances are pretty much spot on. Tommy Lee Jones, as Eldridge, wears his deep wrinkles like scars of time, awards given for living such a hard worn life. Ben Foster as Tom, Eldridge’s son, gives the impression that he too will wear these scars with pride when his time comes.

Toby Wallace’s Charlie, Tom’s half-brother is a rich kid wanna be fisherman. His motivation is that he can get to know his older brother better and become more of a “manly” man. Jenna Ortega, as the charmingly named Mable, *Tom’s father states mid film that he did not think people named their girls Mable anymore.* plays her part with conviction. Sadly, she is stuck as a trope-like character who follows Hollywood’s “perfect” girlfriend mold, admittingly with a twist that was also seen well in advance.

Clayne Crawford (Who struck gold in Lethal Weapon as the disarmingly brilliant Riggs in the small screen version of the popular films. *That is, until inhouse bickering led to his dismissal from the show.*) Crawford shines in an all too small, but extended, cameo. His performance wets the appetite for doing more roles like these.

Helgeland has a film that looks crisp. Finestkind, however, drags in the middle despite some impressive visuals and spot on camera work. It could well have done with having a good 30 minutes shaved off to pick up the pacing. Having said that, it was enjoyable and while it felt, in many cases, like a TV movie of the week the movie itself did entertain.

It does indeed feel like a western. Clear cut and not so clear cut villians, and there is even a pretty satisfying gunfight in the movie.

This is a good solid 3.5 stars worth of entertainment. Popping a couple of bowls of popcorn, one bowl will not suffice this overly long film, and drinking a couple of cans of fizzy, can only add to the enjoyment factor.