The subgenre of dramas focused on down-on-his-luck fighters trying to make a name for themselves and escape their humble lives is one of the most popular in all of film. Of course, you have classics like “Rocky,” which show that the underdog can win, but then on the other side of the spectrum, you have “Jungleland,” which shows that sometimes the underdog is destined to fail…over and over again.
As seen in the trailer for “Jungleland,” the film begins much like “Rocky” or another film in that ilk, as a young fighter is hoping to escape his shitty job by becoming a fighting sensation. He even has an overly enthusiastic coach to help. But this isn’t a feel-good story. Not at all. In fact, “Jungleland” shows that even the fighters with the biggest hearts sometimes don’t succeed.
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The film stars Charlie Hunnam, Jack O’Connell, Jonathan Majors, and Jessica Barden. “Jungleland” is directed by Max Winkler, who is probably best known for his work in TV sitcoms, such as “Fresh Off the Boat,” “New Girl,” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” His most recent feature before “Jungleland” is the 2017 indie, “Flower.”
It’s been more than a year since we saw “Jungleland” during its time at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. And in our review of the film, we commented on the incredible acting on display but also the frustration of the plot. We said, “Max Winkler’s ‘Jungleland’ is a confidently crafted, well-acted three-hander, and your enjoyment of it will depend entirely on how many times you can watch its protagonists fuck up.”
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“Jungleland” will arrive in select theaters on November 6 and will then be seen on PVOD and Digital on November 10. You can watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
Stanley (Charlie Hunnam) and Lion (Jack O’Connell) are two brothers struggling to stay relevant in the underground world of bare-knuckle boxing. When Stanley fails to pay back a dangerous crime boss (Jonathan Majors), they’re forced to deliver an unexpected traveler as they journey across the country for a high stakes fighting tournament. While Stanley trains Lion for the fight of his life, a series of events threaten to tear the brothers apart, but their love for one another and belief in a better life keep them going in this gripping drama that proves family pulls no punches.