Jungleland

I put off watching this because the plot felt underwhelming but if you're a fan of cinema this film was beautifully shot and directed.

Really great cast and characters as well. Loved the pacing of this film.

Fighting for your life ... almost literally speaking in this case. Two brothers, one goal. And yet their relationship is shaky. Or at least it is vulnerable on many things. Trust, having given up so many things ... expectations ... wanting the best for your brother and so many other things. Add a woman and her own issues to the mix ... and it becomes an almost explosive cocktail of sorts.

The acting is more than decent and the story moves along nicely. I reckon you can guess a few things or most depending on how much you invest in thinking ahead of time. Still this is quite the enjoyable movie, where the fight scenes work as much as the dramatic scenes. There is heightened reality to it to ... and an ending that I reckon is bittersweet at best ... or maybe you feel different about it.

I don't really know what else to say. This film was a really touching experience watching two brothers struggle to make a dream in order to have something in life. But in the process, perhaps becoming misguided and lost in the journey. Charlie and Jack really do a great job of conveying these conflictions and emotions on screen and you can't help but yearn for their ambitions to work out too. I'd recommend.

I'm not sure how Jungleland managed to go under the radar when it was released a couple of years ago . Perhaps it's because there has been a surge of fighting films in recent years but I'd say that this is a cut above most .

When a devastating loss in the ring leaves Lion and his manager/brother Stan in debt to a local crime boss, they are forced to risk it all in a bare-knuckle boxing tournament as the pair fight for a better life.

I'm not a fan of Charlie Hunnam . Most of his appearances involve a terrible accent or over the top acting . Not this time . Thankfully he just uses his Sons Of Anarchy' voice and he's actually very good as Stan but the stand out performance unsurprisingly is from Jack O'Connell . This is a film where two British actors are absolutely nailing it.

It's a story about family and chasing the dream . One wants to get rich by winning fights the other just wants to settle down and open a laundromat. Sadly the one who wants to win fights isn't the fighter !

I really liked this . It's a bit of a slow burner at times but I was quite happy with that and the ending where they use the Bruce Springsteen song " Dream Baby Dream " is very moving .

Well shot and with great performances by the three leads, this is a heartfelt film about lost lives and family. Definitely worth a watch.