Jungle (2017 film)

Jungle
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Greg McLean
Produced by Todd Fellman
Mike Gabrawy
Gary Hamilton
Mark Lazarus
Dana Lustig
Greg McLean
Screenplay by Justin Monjo
Based on Jungle
by Yossi Ghinsberg
Starring Daniel Radcliffe
Alex Russell
Thomas Kretschmann
Yasmin Kassim
Joel Jackson
Jacek Koman
Music by Johnny Klimek
Cinematography Stefan Duscio
Edited by Sean Lahiff
Production
company
Babber Films
Cutting Edge Group
Screen Australia
Screen Queensland
Distributed by Umbrella Entertainment
Release date
  • August 3, 2017 (2017-08-03) (MIFF)
  • November 9, 2017 (2017-11-09) (Australia)
Running time
 115 minutes[1]
Country Australia
Colombia
Language English
Box office $883,744[2]

Jungle is a 2017 Australian biographical survival drama film directed by Greg McLean and written by Justin Monjo. The film, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Alex Russell, Thomas Kretschmann, Yasmin Kassim, Joel Jackson, and Jacek Koman, was released in Australia on November 9, 2017, by Umbrella Entertainment.

Plot

In early 1980s, an Israeli adventurer named Yossi Ghinsberg (Daniel Radcliffe) travels to Bolivia planning to journey into the heart of the Amazon rainforest. There, he meets Marcus Stamm, a Swiss school teacher, and Marcus' friend Kevin Gale, an American hiker and avid photographer. The three are staying in La Paz, where one of them has an apartment. Yossi is out in the market one day where a stranger asks if he is an American; Yossi replies, "No".

During conversation the Austrian stranger, Karl Ruprechter, claims the existence of an Indian tribe in the jungle that they should go see. Karl says he knows the jungle, and he's friends with the tribe.

Yossi, excited about the prospect of exploring the uncharted jungle and meeting undiscovered peoples, chooses to believe him. He heads back to the apartment to convince Marcus and Kevin to come along. Skeptical of the stranger and his story, they refuse. Yossi continues to press them until they ultimately acquiesce.

The next day, the trio meets Karl in a shop while he is gathering supplies for the hike. All three men are surprised when Karl leaves with the supplies and tells them they will pay for everything.

Yossi, Marcus, Kevin, and Karl hike through the jungle for several days. They make it to a village where it's apparent Karl knows the villagers. They spend the day in the village and stay overnight, then head back into the jungle the next morning.

Marcus starts having trouble walking, and it is discovered his feet are full of bloody sores. By now, Kevin and Yossi are tired of Marcus' complaining.

Yossi, Kevin, and Karl discuss how they all should proceed. Karl wants to leave the three while he goes and gets help, but Kevin and Yossi disagree with that plan. At this point Marcus walks up, and Kevin proposes building a raft to navigate downriver, so all of them can stay together.

They build a raft and set off down the river. They hit some rapids, barely making it through. Karl gets upset at Kevin for taking control on the raft, floats the raft to shore, and says he's going hunting. Kevin had noticed Karl's fear of water and deduces that Karl can't swim. Yossi then goes to find Karl, so he won't abandon them.

Marcus and Karl decide to abandon the journey and make the three-day hike back to La Paz. Meanwhile, Yossi and Kevin continue their journey downriver until their makeshift raft is destroyed in the rapids.

Yossi is washed away by the river, leaving Kevin behind. Without a knife, tools, or any kind of survival training, Yossi must improvise shelter and forage to survive. He begins to give up hope after losing all sense of direction, wondering if he will ever survive the jungle.

Meanwhile, Kevin is rescued by people from the local town who take him to Rurrenabaque, 120 miles from Yossi's location, Curiplaya. At Rurrenabaque, Kevin calls for the help of the local authorities to find Yossi. They fail to find Yossi via a plane flyover, but Kevin believes that Yossi is alive. Kevin ropes in the help of the local boat pilot to search for Yossi, finally discovers his weakened friend, and takes him to Rurrenabaque.

The epilogue says that Karl and Marcus were never seen again, and Karl was wanted by the authorities.

Cast

Production

On February 10, 2016, Daniel Radcliffe joined the cast.[3] On March 21, 2016, Thomas Kretschmann and Alex Russell also joined the cast.[4] Principal photography began on March 19, 2016 and ended on April 13, 2016.[6]

Release

The film premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 3, 2017.[7] It was released in Australia on November 9, 2017, by Umbrella Entertainment.[8]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a rating of 54%, based on 48 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10.[9] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 48 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[10]

Writing for The A.V. Club, Alex McLevy gave the film a B−, praising Radcliffe's acting commitment and the shock of some of the scenes but wrote, "Unfortunately, the movie too often can’t resist leaning into the melodrama of the situation. Rather than allowing the power to come from the raw intensity of what transpired, it occasionally turns Ghinsberg’s journey into a Hollywood spectacle, making the incredible seem a little less so in the process."[11] Dread Central's Jonathan Barkan gave the film 4.5 out of 5, saying that it was, "without a doubt, the most thrilling, exhilarating, and inspiring film I've seen this year."[12]

Accolades

Stefan Duscio was nominated for Best Cinematography at the 7th AACTA Awards.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Windsor, Harry (August 8, 2017). "'Jungle': Film Review | Melbourne 2017". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Jungle (2017)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Frater, Patrick (February 10, 2016). "Daniel Radcliffe-Starrer 'Jungle' to Shoot in Australia". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Galuppo, Mia (March 21, 2016). "Thomas Kretschmann, Alex Russell Join Daniel Radcliffe in Thriller 'Jungle'". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  5. ↑ Katz, Isaac (March 14, 2018). "Lost in the Jungle: The untold story of Kevin Gale". Ami Magazine.
  6. ↑ "Filming Wraps in Colombia on Adventure Drama Jungle, Starring Daniel Radcliffe and Supported by Law 1556". Proimágenes Colombia. Comisión Fílmica Colombiana. June 3, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  7. ↑ Sharf, Zack (June 14, 2017). "'Jungle' Trailer: Daniel Radcliffe Gets Sent to Wilderness Hell". IndieWire. Penske Business Media. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Daniel Radcliffe survival thriller Jungle coming to cinemas in November". Flicks.com.au. Flicks.co.nz. October 18, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Jungle (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Jungle Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  11. ↑ McLevy, Alex (October 16, 2017). "Jungle Pits Daniel Radcliffe Against Nature, with One of the Grossest Scenes of the Year". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  12. ↑ Barkan, Jonathan (October 16, 2017). "Jungle Telluride Horror Show Review: An Exhilarating, Tension-Fueled Tale of Survival". Dread Central. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  13. ↑ https://www.aacta.org/aacta-awards/winners-and-nominees/
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