"Finestkind" navigates the tumultuous life of the fishing community in New Bedford, Massachusetts, a place intimately familiar to writer and director Brian Helgeland, who draws from his personal experiences working on a deep-sea scallop boat. The film opens with the immersive sounds of the ocean, instantly transporting viewers to the salty air and sprawling sea, setting the stage for a tale deeply rooted in maritime life.
Central to this story is Tom (Ben Foster), a character perpetually torn between the liberation of the sea and the complexities of life on land. His existence oscillates between the adventures at sea and the arduous wait to return. The ocean is his escape, a place where the horizon blurs into the sky, and whales swim beneath his boat.
Tom embodies a particular notion of masculinity, one that values freedom from societal constraints and revels in the challenges of the natural world. This is contrasted with men who work in offices, viewed by sea-faring folks as less courageous for not embracing the physically demanding lifestyle of fishermen. The film captures the essence of 'guy-talk,' characterized by terse, wry, and often emotionally detached dialogue. This is exemplified in the one-word title "Finestkind," a versatile expression used by the characters that can mean anything from approval to disdain.
Charlie (Toby Wallace), Tom’s half-brother, seeks to reconnect with Tom, drawn to the allure of the sea and away from a potential career in law. Their mother, Donna (Lolita Davidovich), has her past entwined with two different worlds - that of Tom's father, Mr. Eldridge (Tommy Lee Jones), a respected boat captain, and Gary (Tim Daly), Charlie’s father, a lawyer. Charlie is also captivated by Mabel (Jenna Ortega), a girl with a complex past and uncertain intentions.
Disaster soon strikes at sea, compelling Tom to make increasingly desperate and dangerous decisions, entangling him in a web of risky ventures. Helgeland's narrative aims to engross the audience in the brothers' escalating predicament as they delve deeper into trouble due to their flawed choices. However, the most authentic emotional connection in the film is briefly glimpsed in a scene featuring Jones and Davidovich as the former couple. Foster, known for his intense and brooding roles, struggles to find depth in a script that offers limited scope, while Wallace's portrayal of Charlie lacks the needed substance to stand out.
As the story progresses to a point where Charlie and Mabel's intimate conversations about Moby Dick intertwine with their physical relationship, the film seems to lose its grounding. While "Finestkind" strives to depict the complexities of familial bonds, individual aspirations, and the rugged life of fishermen, it ultimately struggles to maintain a steady course, leaving the viewer adrift in a sea of unfulfilled narrative potential.
