Jungleland (2019)

In an attempt to score big, two brothers travel across the country for a bare-knuckle boxing match, but the obstacles don’t stop getting in the way.

Jungleland… the type of American indie that makes your heart race, wondering from the opening sequence what on earth will go wrong. That said, Jessica Barden (who reminded me of Maggie Gyllenhaal) and the magnificent duo Charlie Hunnam and Jack O’Connell are all British and doing a great job posing as Americans. How about producer Ridley Scott?

Despite the great acting, Jungleland‘s strong suit is the blurred line that doesn’t distinguish ambition from greed. Writers Theodore Bressman and David Branson Smith and writer/director Max Winkler (son of legendary Henry Winkler) bring to life a beautiful story that will make you wonder, how far would you go to make your dreams come true? And make you think about how far you have gone so far.

Does it go wrong, though? That is for you to decide. The long-awaited moment has finally arrived and Hunnam with O’Connell are on screen together and reveal about their lives whatever you need to know and not necessarily what you want to. Would I prefer to see them in a British film as a Northerner and a Midlander, respectively? Sure. Does it matter, though, that they put an accent and they are overseas? Not really. Remember, a film that lets you in halfway through and lets you out at an unexpected point in time is a reminder of Ithaca; it’s not about the destination but the journey itself.

P.S. On a personal note, as I have been living for years in the city where Jack O’Connell and Michael Socha were born, I have met them both, and I must tell you that, other than great actors, they are both great human beings.

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