FINESTKIND - CATCHING UP WITH WRITER-DIRECTOR BRIAN HELGELAND

You live. You die. It’s the in between that counts in the new drama, Finestkind.

FINESTKIND tells the story of two brothers (Ben Foster & Toby 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 (Jenna Ortega) finds herself caught perilously in the middle. Sacrifices must be made and bonds between brothers, friends, lovers, and a father (Tommy Lee Jones) and his son are put to the ultimate test.

Finestkind is written and directed by Brian Helgeland who won the Academy Award for his screenwriting of “L.A. Confidential.” He started writing the script for Finestkind ( his most personal film to date) almost 30 years ago with Heath Ledger attached to the project.

Helgeland was also nominated by the Academy for his writing of Clint Eastwood’s “Mystic River.” His directorial work includes the films “Legend,” starring Tom Hardy and Taron Egerton, “42,” starring Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford, and “A Knight’s Tale,” starring Heath Ledger and Paul Bettany.

He is the writer of Tony Scott’s “Man On Fire” and Paul Greengrass’ “Green Zone.” Helgeland is also the recipient of the Writers Guild of America Award, the PEN Center Literary Award, the Edgar Allan Poe Award, the USC Scripter Award and the Sidney Lumet Award for Integrity in Entertainment.

Finestkind Streaming Friday, December 15th on Paramount+

I spoke to Brian Helgeland why it took so long to make the film and how hard it is as a screenwriter to give up sone of his scrips to other directors.