By John Saeger
The ongoing series from The Philadelphia Globe peaks ahead at the next week of television, movies, and topical classics.
Jungleland
This one looks like a winner. Starring Jack O’Connell and Charlie Hunnam, Jungleland follows two brothers who are involved with bare-knuckle boxing. They encounter a criminal played by 2020 breakout actor Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country, Da 5 Bloods) and become embroiled in a fight for their lives. Boxing films like Creed and The Fighter showcased some of the best stories of the last decade. Look for Jungleland to harness similar power.
Jungleland opens in theaters on November 6. It is available for streaming on November 10.
Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution (ABC, 3:30 PM)
The Eagles are off this week, but you can still watch a Philly team play football on Sunday. The Union will bid for their first-ever Supporter’s Shield against the New England Revolution. Philadelphia enjoyed the best season in franchise history in 2020. Sunday will also be the last regular season game in Union colors for midfielder Brenden Aaronson, who will head to FC Red Bull Salzburg after this year.
The Informer
A quick glance at the cast is all anyone should need to check out this crime thriller. Rosamund Pike, Common, Ana de Armas, and Clive Owen bring to life a story of an FBI informant whose identity is stolen by Polish drug dealers. The informant, Joel Kinnaman, is caught between criminals and crooked FBI agents. The movie is produced by Basil Iwanyk, who was also involved with similar hard-edged stories Sicario and The Town.
The Informer is available in theaters starting November 6.
Superstore (NBC, November 12, 8:00 PM)
The most relatable network sitcom for anyone who has retail experience on their resume is bidding adieu to one of its signature characters. Amy (America Ferrera) is leaving the series this season, but Superstore should still be able to hold up without one of its two leads. Retail provides endless material for oddballs and hijinx.
The ensemble developed enough chemistry that the show can sustain itself without the Sam-Diane dynamic of Jonah and Amy. If we’re allowed to extend Cheers metaphors even further, it will be interesting to see if the show makes Glenn Sturgis the new Rebecca Howe. Superstore may also follow the lead of The Office and go with a rotating group of store managers.
Oldie, But Goodie…
Apollo 13
The silver anniversary of one of my favorite films slipped past me until Fandango advertised a theatrical re-release last week. Apollo 13 is not the only film to feature Tom Hanks as a captain in peril, but it is one of his best films as said captain. The Ron Howard movie sees Hanks guide Apollo 13 through a series of tribulations that remain unparalleled in NASA history.
Hanks stars alongside Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Gary Senise, and the late Bill Paxton in the space race classic. Apollo 13 is available on Amazon Prime, Google Play, and YouTube TV.
About the Author: John Saeger is a music and film writer from Philadelphia. Since 2017 he has been writing his pop-culture blog Long After Dark, a site dedicated to the arts in the City of Brotherly Love.
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