Two brothers try to escape their circumstances by traveling across the country for a no-holds-barred boxing match that becomes a fight for their lives.
An underlying cynical attitude for the American Dream drives the tension in “Jungleland” as two brothers literally try to solve all of their problems by punching through them rather than considering the consequences of the eventual extremities of their actions. “Jungleland,” directed by Max Winkler, stars Charlie Hunnam and Jack O’Connell as Stanley and Lion respectively, protagonists who find themselves caught up in a ruthless underground transaction in which their efforts for survival produce nothing but a forsaken sense of hope.
Hunnam and O’Connell deliver solid performances in their characters’ desperation for success in the boxing ring. Their female counterpart Sky, played by Jessica Barden, adds a space for more dialogue and causes a rift between the brothers. However, her character falls short of her potential, going from having a motivated personal agenda in the plot to being reduced to a misunderstood love interest for Lion. There is a semblance of solidarity with Sky’s presence in the film as her character is also a product of unfortunate circumstances and even more unfortunate choices.
O’ Connell’s portrayal of Lion draws elements from his film work as Louis Zamperini, so there is a familiarity in which he carries his character to a fruition of resilience and the theme of “getting back up as you are being beaten down, time and time again.” However, it is Hunnam who seems to deliver a transformative performance, contrasting sharply from his archetypal roles as the inspirational hero or the protagonist with a strong manhood. Hunnam’s weight loss for the role combined with a poverty mentality driven by fear and false ideals is relatable to those under the poverty line, homeless populations, and those that struggle to accept their own financial realities.
Much of the “Jungleland” storyline follows the trope of having faded, big dreams that were reduced to a state of stagnancy in underground street fighting. There are stereotypical antagonists driven by a greed for power and money, taking advantage of the poor but naive struggling class. The momentum of the movie that keeps audiences at the edge of their seat is that every obstacle carries itself like a climax due to its devastating emotional costs that the actual climactic ending leaves a feeling of emptiness and hopelessness for the brothers. Arguably, the ending is very fitting for the narrative as it is grounded in realism – there will be consequences for the choices that are made even if the circumstances trap you in a corner of devastation.
“Jungleland” thrives as a film that leeches off the desperation of its characters to create a somber tone of survival that many people can relate to in their own daily struggles. However, the cost of redemption proves to be too great even for the brothers that the conclusion is a deafening silence of reality which may fail to capture the hearts of those who had hoped for a film with more action and more inspiration.
Available on DVD January 12th from Paramount Home Entertainment
