New Bedford-inspired movie starring Tommy Lee Jones set to premiere Dec. 15.
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NEW BEDFORD — The locally filmed "Finestkind" movie is set to premiere on Paramount+ on Dec. 15.
The movie, filmed all around the New Bedford and Fairhaven area in April to June 2022, stars Ben Foster, Toby Wallace, Jenna Ortega and Tommy Lee Jones, and will be available on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada, and will debut in all Paramount+ international markets on December 16.
What is the movie about?
The movie 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.
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Sacrifices must be made, and bonds between brothers, friends, lovers, and a father (Jones) and his son are put to the ultimate test.
Who else stars in the movie?
The film also features Ismael Cruz Cordova ("The Undoing"), Aaron Stanford ("12 Monkeys"), Scotty Tovar ("Whiteblood"), Tim Daly ("Wings"), Lolita Davidovich ("Blaze") and Clayne Crawford ("Lethal Weapon").
The film is directed by New Bedford native and UMass grad Brian Helgeland and 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.
Where was the filming?
After 35 days of filming, and 22 days in the New Bedford area, "Finestkind" filmed all over the area such as in homes located in the South and North End, the Fairhaven bridge, Rasputin's Tavern, Hedge Street, Moriarty Liquors and Union Wharf.
How to watch the movie
Subscribers to Paramount+ have access to a variety of original series, hit shows, popular movies, and live sports, plus 24/7 access to CBS News and CBS Sports HQ.
What the early reviews are saying
After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 8, the screening was followed with 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."
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Collider.com also said it is a mishmash of ideas, shifting stakes, and poor choices that should've floated, but instead, it just sinks. While 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."
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" has made any changes since its Toronto debut before premiering 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: Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Foster movie 'Finestkind' to stream Dec. 15
