Jungleland

Directed by Max Winkler, Jungleland follows Charlie Hunnam’s Stanley as he and his boxer brother (Jack O’Connell’s Lion) attempt to clear their debt by participating in a lucrative fight on the other side of the country – with the ensuing road trip complicated by a young woman (Jessica Barden’s Sky) they’ve been asked to take with them. There’s little doubt that Jungleland improves substantially as it progresses, as the movie’s effectiveness is, in its early stages, undercut by an emphasis on overly familiar plot elements and character types – with the relationship between the two brothers initially too conventional to comfortably overlook (ie we’ve seen the fast-talking hustler and quiet, affable bruiser dynamic many, many times before). It’s clear, then, that the picture benefits from the consistently captivating performances by its two leads, with the strength of Hunnam and O’Connell’s work here paving the way for a midsection that grows increasingly engrossing and absorbing. By the time it reaches its somewhat spellbinding third act (and downright powerful finale), Jungleland has cemented its place as an erratic yet completely rewarding little drama that’s ultimately much better than it has any right to be.

***1/2 out of ****