“The Law of the Stone Jungle” is an impressive visualization, dramatically energetic and tough domestic crime series about the modern “lost” generation of youth. It was created by RatPack Production by order of TNT television channel. The first season was broadcast in March 2015, the second with the subtitle “Where Dreams Bring” - in the first spring month of 2017. Often the name of the project is reduced to the laconic name "Law of the Jungle." The film received rave reviews; its rating on IMDb is 7.10.
Project start
The series "Law of the Jungle - 1 & raquo; filled a vacant niche in modern Russian cinema, despite the deafening success of the “Brigade” and “Boomer” to create cruel criminal sagas about how “boys went to success”, few dare. Cinematographers can be justified, since the subject matter is extremely scrupulous, there is too great a chance to set off on obsessive edification or on the romanticization of crime. But the authors of the Law of the Jungle found this line, although they could not turn around well. Eight episodes for a character-rich project are simply not enough.
Initially, the project was created by Igor Chomsky, his visualization is different peppy, but quite practical style. Good actors were involved in the production process: Aristarch Venes (Operation Color of the Nation), Alexander Melnikov (Private Pioneer), Igor Ogurtsov (The Exile), Nikita Pavlenko (Out of Game). In general, everything turned out stylish, fashionable, youth.
Street drama
The television movie "Law of the Jungle" takes place on the outskirts of Moscow. The four young guys who have been friends since childhood decide to become a gang and get rich illegally. Tim (A. Venes), Tsypa (N. Pavlenko), Zhuk (I. Ogurtsov) and Gosha (A. Melnikov) do not think about the consequences of their games with the police and with the representatives of the criminal world. Easy money, cool showdowns, shootouts - a natural pseudo-realistic "street drama" about guys from the outskirts.
Of course, the plot of "Law of the Jungle" is rather secondary, recalling the domestic "Brigade" with "Boomer" and the Hong Kong cycle about the triad "Young and Dangerous". By the way, there one of the heroes was called Chicken, that is, Tsypa. But the series is still very good, an excellent soundtrack, a lot of cameraman, style and directorial finds, among which a brief retelling of the contents of previous episodes in rap style with phrases from the film inserted into the text.
“Where Dreams May Come”
"Law of the Jungle 2" turned out even more spectacular, its creators demonstrate an exemplary master class on competent balancing on the edge of a moral razor.
The story begins with the fact that, having figured out unwanted guests, the characters strengthen their position in the criminal world. Their "curator" authority Vadik (A. Petrov) decides to entrust them with larger tasks. But in the lives of the heroes there remains a place for personal problems: the Beetle does not dare to enter the ring after a head injury, Tim, unable to drown out the pain with conventional medicines, takes drugs, Gosha solves the problems of his father, and Tsypa is completely confused in his feelings for Tim's sister.
The second season was created by another director, Pavel Kostomarov, whose visualization differs in an openly clip-like manner, acted as a director. The plot, revealed throughout the same eight episodes, is oversaturated with events. Sometimes the lines of the heroes diverge into a "solo" performance, but the authors do not allow them to fall apart. At the same time, they dispense with “soapy” stretches, maintain the structure and complete the second season with hard but eloquent ellipses. The heroes, of course, want to empathize, but not to imitate, because they tighten the noises on their necks voluntarily and independently, in the criminal world it does not happen otherwise.
Curious acting works were considered one of the advantages of the first season, the second one looks no worse in this regard. The central characters confidently hold the bar, securing success, second-rate ones get the opportunity to reveal themselves. Particularly impressive is Julia Hlynina, who played the role of Tim's sister.
Recommended for viewing
The Law of the Jungle proves that the series can be both instructive and entertaining, classic and impeccably modern, provocative, but not annoying. For both seasons, of course, you can find fault with trifles, but in a general sense it is extremely durable, worthy of the attention of a wide audience. The project would like to wish creative longevity, and its creators - non-decreasing inspiration.