New Bedford film 'Finestkind' gets 'not so kind' early reviews at Toronto Film Festival.

NEW BEDFORD — After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 8, last summer's excitement over "Finestkind" filming in the city, has led to lackluster reviews in the media.

Top critics such as Indie Wire referred to actress Jenna Ortega ("Wednesday") as the least likely drug dealer in movie history while Film Inquiry called it, "A well-intention but sadly shallow thriller."

Collider.com also said it is a mishmash of ideas, shifting stakes, and poor choices that should've floated, but instead, it just sinks.

What is the film about?

"Finestkind" follows two brothers from opposite sides of the tracks, who are reunited as adults over one fateful summer. When desperate circumstances force them to strike a deal with a dangerous Boston crime syndicate, a young woman finds herself caught in the middle.

Along the way, sacrifices must be made, and bonds between brothers, friends and a father and his son are put to the test. The film was acquired last year by Paramount+ and will also stream on its platform.

The film stars Ben Foster (“Hell and High Water”) and Toby Wallace (“Pistol”) alongside Tim Daily ("Madam Secretary"); Jenna Ortega ("You") and Lolita Davidovich ("Hollywood Homicide") and Oscar-winner Tommy Lee Jones.

“We're really pleased with it. It's good. It's the movie we intended to make,” Foster said in a previous Standard-Times interview, adding that New Bedford native and Oscar-winning director Brian Helgeland did an amazing job from top to bottom.

Helgeland called the movie a deeply personal work, the type of film he wished had been his first, and the kind he fears might be his last.  “Everybody really did a fabulous job, and the world will tell us in September what they think," Foster said.

Unfortunately, the critics haven't had many good thing to say about it, so far. Robert Daniels of Indie Wire said, "I watched this turgid muddle, a messy ball of nonsensical threads and worse performances," grading it a C-.

Here's what more critics are saying about the film

Kevin Lee said in his review, "Execution is all over the place, ranging from being uneventful to being unintentionally funny," and "Without specificity in character development, philosophy or emotional stakes, any story — as well-intentioned and deep as it is — can become shallow."

Deadline's Damon Wise said, "An ambitious attempt to combine serious adult issues with satisfying thriller conventions: the parts work by themselves — but you don’t need them all once, just as you don’t need a corkscrew, a bottle opener and a horse’s hoof cleaner when all you really want is a sharp, clean blade."

Wise also wrote in his review the the movie leaves some serious loose ends hanging. There is also not so much to say about Jones' performance except that he brings an average performance similar to many performances before this one.

However, not all the reviews are bad. RobertEbert.com calls Foster's performance worth-watching while Variety said, "If you choose to focus on the family connections, then it's clear that Helgeland [director] has something to say."

For many films that first premiere at festivals, they have an option to re-edit content ahead of its theatrical release (or debut on a streaming platform). It's not clear if "Finestkind" will take this approach from the early reviews from critics.

At this time, there is no set date for "Finestkind" to make its public debut on Paramount+.

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports.Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford filmed movie 'Finestkind' premieres at Toronto Film Festival