Ever had that specific itch for a movie that feels like salt spray and old wood? You're probably thinking of the Tommy Lee Jones fishing movie that hit Paramount+ not too long ago. It’s called Finestkind. Honestly, if you went in expecting a peaceful documentary about catching bass, you were likely in for a massive shock.
It’s gritty. It’s dark. It smells like diesel and desperation.
The film, directed by Brian Helgeland—the guy who wrote L.A. Confidential and Mystic River—is basically a love letter to the commercial fishing world of New Bedford, Massachusetts. But it’s a love letter written in blood and engine oil. It isn’t just about "fishing" in the recreational sense; it’s about the soul-crushing, bone-breaking labor of the Atlantic scallop trade and what happens when that life starts to slip away from you.
What is Finestkind actually about?
Most people searching for the "Tommy Lee Jones fishing movie" are trying to remember the name of this 2023 release. The story centers on two half-brothers, Tom (played by a very intense Ben Foster) and Charlie (Toby Wallace). Charlie is the "smart" one, a college grad headed for law school who decides he wants to experience his brother’s world for a summer.
Bad idea. Or maybe a great one, depending on how much you value your safety versus your "manhood."
Tommy Lee Jones plays Ray Eldridge, the grizzled, cantankerous father of Tom. He’s the kind of guy who looks like he’s made of beef jerky and resentment. Ray owns the Finestkind, the boat that serves as the heart of the film. When the brothers get into some legal hot water—specifically by fishing in Canadian waters where they shouldn't be—the boat gets impounded. To get it back, they have to come up with $100,000.
Fast.
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This is where the movie pivots from a blue-collar drama into a high-stakes crime thriller. They end up hauling heroin for a Boston syndicate because, well, that’s apparently the only way to save a boat in New Bedford.
The Tommy Lee Jones factor
Let's talk about Tommy Lee Jones for a second. The man is a legend, but in this movie, he looks every bit his age in a way that actually helps the story. He isn't the action hero here. He's the ghost of a dying industry.
His performance is quiet. It’s heavy.
There’s a specific nuance to how he plays a father who doesn’t know how to say "I love you" without it sounding like an insult. If you’ve ever had a hard-headed dad, those scenes hit like a ton of bricks. He brings a "gravitas" (to use a fancy word) that keeps the movie from feeling like just another straight-to-streaming crime flick. When he’s on screen, you feel the weight of generations of fishermen who worked themselves to death just to keep a hull afloat.
Why it feels so real
Brian Helgeland didn't just pull this story out of thin air. He grew up in New Bedford. His dad and granddad were fishermen. He actually worked on a boat for a year and a half before he became a filmmaker.
You can tell.
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The way the crew talks, the way the boat moves, the sheer chaos of a "dredge" coming up—it feels lived-in. They filmed on location in New England, hitting spots like the Fairhaven bridge and local dive bars. It doesn't have that "Hollywood" shine. Everything looks a bit damp and cold.
Why critics were split (and why you might still love it)
If you check the reviews, you’ll see some critics calling it "melodramatic" or "cluttered." They aren't entirely wrong. The movie tries to be three things at once:
- A coming-of-age story for Charlie.
- A gritty crime thriller involving Jenna Ortega (who plays a local drug dealer named Mabel).
- A deep, emotional family drama about fathers and sons.
Sometimes those gears grind against each other. The transition from "scallop fishing" to "international drug smuggling" happens pretty fast. It’s a bit of a leap. One minute they're arguing about winch cables, and the next, they're staring down guys with guns.
But honestly? It works if you just go with it.
The chemistry between Ben Foster and Toby Wallace is legit. They feel like brothers who barely know each other but desperately want to. And Jenna Ortega brings a toughness to Mabel that makes her more than just "the girlfriend" character. She’s part of the landscape—hardened by the town just as much as the guys on the boat.
Practical takeaways if you’re going to watch it
If you’re planning to stream Finestkind on Paramount+, here are a few things to keep in mind:
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1. Don't expect "A River Runs Through It." This is not a "pretty" fishing movie. There are no fly-fishing rods or serene mountain streams. It’s commercial scalloping. It’s loud, dirty, and dangerous.
2. Watch the background. Since Helgeland is a local, the background details are gold. The way the houses look, the lighting in the bars—it captures a very specific New England "townie" vibe that most movies miss.
3. Pay attention to the score. Carter Burwell did the music. He’s the guy who does all the Coen Brothers movies. The soundtrack is subtle but does a lot of the heavy lifting during the emotional scenes between Tommy Lee Jones and Ben Foster.
4. Prepare for the ending. Without spoiling anything, the final act gets intense. It leans hard into the "crime" aspect. If you’re just there for the father-son bonding, be prepared for some violence.
The verdict on the Finestkind
Is it the best movie Tommy Lee Jones has ever made? Probably not. No Country for Old Men and The Fugitive are hard to beat. But is it a solid, "dad-core" crime drama that respects the people it’s about? Absolutely.
It’s a movie about the choices people make when they’re backed into a corner by debt and heritage. It’s about how "finestkind"—a local term that basically means "the best" or "all good"—is often a lie we tell ourselves when things are actually falling apart.
If you want to dive deeper into the world of New Bedford fishing after watching, look up the history of the port. It’s still one of the most valuable fishing ports in the U.S., but it’s a world that’s rapidly changing.
To get the most out of your viewing, try to watch it on the biggest screen possible. The cinematography during the sea storms is actually pretty spectacular and deserves more than a phone screen. After that, you might find yourself looking up other Brian Helgeland scripts, because the man knows how to write a gritty dialogue better than almost anyone in the business.