“Even the best fall down sometimes”, sang Howie Day in Collide, and rarely has that lyric landed harder than on Taylor Sheridan’s resume. Yes, the mastermind of Yellowstone and Sicario once put his name behind Finestkind, a 2023 crime thriller so poorly received, it’s been digitally buried like last year’s memes.
This cinematic shipwreck paired up-and-coming Jenna Ortega with Hollywood veteran Tommy Lee Jones, promising firepower but delivering a fizzle. Critics didn’t sing much praise, and Jenna Ortega fans labeled it one of the worst performances to date. The irony? Sheridan, who now steers prestige Westerns, would likely prefer you pretend this film never existed.
With a 28% Rotten Tomatoes rating and dialogue so stiff it could splinter wood, Finestkind isn’t just a flop; it’s an embarrassment that everyone involved hopes you missed.
Finestkind: A star-studded crime movie that fell apart
Credits: Jenna Ortega in Finestkind / Paramount+
We will not sugarcoat it: Starring Jenna Ortega as Mabel, a drug-dealing love interest, and Tommy Lee Jones as Ray, a grizzled old sea-dog with a heart condition and a handgun, Finestkind stumbled under the weight of its own chaotic ambition. Add in Toby Wallace, Ben Foster, and you’ve got a plot so jagged it could cut glass.
Related: Finestkind (2023) Review: Cliches That Go Against the Grain
Helmed by L.A. Confidential’s Brian Helgeland, who somehow managed to both write and direct this nautical fever dream, the movie has been widely derided for ‘Poor writing’, and ‘corny dialogue’.
Ben Foster in Finestkind (2023) | Image via Paramount+
Ortega, recently crowned Gen Z’s scream queen for her impressive work in Wednesday and Scream, couldn’t save this shipwreck, and critics weren’t shy about pinning the blame. Her character tries to juggle street-smart sass and tearful sincerity, but the script gives her little more than drug deals, a rushed romance, and a plot that unravels faster than cheap yarn.
Meanwhile, Jones, a cinematic titan best known for The Fugitive and Men in Black, looks like he wandered onto the set by mistake. Ray’s story arc (terminal illness + criminal redemption + vigilante justice) reads like a rejected Law & Order spec script.
Why Taylor Sheridan and Jenna Ortega’s Finestkind was a massive flop
Taylor Sheridan in Yellowstone | Credit: Paramount+
If you’re wondering why Finestkind doesn’t show up on any of Taylor Sheridan’s IMDb highlight reels, here’s your answer: he likely wants it memory-holed. His producer credit on this film was probably one of many career experiments. In hindsight, he might’ve preferred producing a toothpaste commercial over this.
Despite the film’s promise on paper, a star-studded cast, gritty setting, crime-laden plot, and a reputable producer, Finestkind became a classic case of too many good ingredients spoiled by a bad recipe. Sheridan’s signature style, sharp, muscular storytelling with moral ambiguity, was nowhere to be found.
Related: Taylor Sheridan’s Only Horror Movie He Did as a Favor to a Friend Doesn’t Even Have an RT Score
Let’s not forget: this was a film that originally flirted with Jake Gyllenhaal, Ansel Elgort, and Zendaya in 2016 before sputtering into production in 2022 with an entirely different lineup (per Deadline). Add to that some behind-the-scenes grievances about unpaid crew and on-set injuries, and you’ve got all the makings of a cursed production. The final product earned a paltry 28% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Finestkind serves as a cautionary tale: even the brightest talents can be dimmed by weak storytelling. Jenna Ortega deserves better, and Sheridan deserves… well, a reminder that not all projects are worth signing off on, even in hindsight. As for audiences? You’re not missing a thing, and Sheridan’s probably counting on it.
If you’ve never heard of Finestkind, consider yourself blessed. If you’ve seen it, condolences. And if Taylor Sheridan ever mentions it again? That’ll be the real shock!
Finestkind is currently available to watch on Paramount+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
