Paper Tiger review: Adam Driver and Miles Teller star in gritty gangster thriller
Adam Driver and Miles Teller elevate James Gray’s gritty 1980s New York crime thriller, even as Paper Tiger falters at the finish.
Paper Tiger, directed by James Gray, is a gritty gangster thriller starring Miles Teller and Adam Driver as Jewish brothers Irwin and Gary Pearl. The film is set in 1980s New York and follows the brothers as they become involved in an oil disposal business run by a group of Russian immigrants. The plot revolves around their attempts to escape the clutches of these dangerous gangsters as the noose tightens around them.
James Gray, known for his diverse filmography, brings together an impressive cast for this New York City gangster movie. The film also features Scarlett Johansson as Irwin's wife Linda, whose decisions greatly impact the brothers' journey.
While the first 90 minutes of Paper Tiger are engaging, with a strong sense of inevitability as the characters' fates unfold, the ending feels somewhat formulaic, reminiscent of made-for-TV cop dramas. The film's cinematography is striking, capturing the gritty, grimy atmosphere of the city, and the performances of the three leads are consistently excellent. However, the ending resorts to clichés when the film aims for greater depth and nuance.
Despite this, Paper Tiger remains a well-acted crime thriller that falls tantalisingly short of the greatness that lies just beyond its grasp.
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