This film follows two brothers- Stanley (Charlie Hunnam) and Lion (Jack O’Connell). In the present, the two struggle to make ends meet but continue to focus on the world of bare-knuckle boxing. Stanley is the trainer and general manager, and Lion is the fighter with all the skills and strength. Things begin to look promising for the two until Stanley makes an unwise bet with a crime boss. Now they are forced to repay a debt by travelling across the country and delivering a young girl to another man. At the same time, Stanley and Lion prepare for one of the biggest tournaments of their lives.
While driving across the country might sound like a simple task, this journey becomes one of the biggest challenges of their lives for these two brothers. Along the way, they both begin to doubt and question if what they have with each other is worth continuing with or if they should give up and walk away for good. The family will be pushed to their limits as they deal with each other, along with pressure from the crime boss.
Performances here are a notable standout, with both Charlie Hunnam & Jack O’Connell delivering powerful characters on screen. It is also compelling and believable that the two actors could be brothers. Actor Jack O’Connell feels physically transformed compared to his previous films.
Jungleland has a powerful opening act and an even more powerful third act filled with unpredictable and surprising outcomes as a plot. Once I started the film, I was significantly invested, wanting to know if either character would make it big or fail to reach their dreams and goals. I also questioned the characters’ fates during multiple scenes.
Overall, Jungleland is a solid drama film. It is filled with touching and heartbreaking moments and outstanding performances by both Charlie Hunnam and Jack O’Connell. I found myself invested in this film, and I loved how unpredictable the outcomes were. Quite enjoyable and comes easy to recommend.
7.1/10
Jungleland (2019) is Now Available on DVD!
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