Four years on from his last film, James Gray returns in captivating New York crime thriller writes Carter Smith
It’s a sure bet that if you have Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson star in a film together, it is going to be a success. It’ll stress you out to no end, but it will be fantastic viewing.
Seven years on from being at each other’s throats in Marriage Story comes Paper Tiger, James Gray’s crime thriller set in 80s New York about a family who get involved in some shady dealings.
It’s the end of your summer for the Pearls. The brothers argue, their dad Irwin (A stand-out Miles Teller) is a goofy, family man and his wife Hester (Scarlett Johansson) is working to keep everyone in check. It’s your typical American household.
Just before the usual hustle and bustle starts back up, Irwin’s brother comes to town with a proposition. Meet Gary (A brilliant Adam Driver) – a suave, rich and handsome ex-police officer. He wears his suit like a piece of armour and has no trouble showing off his perceived lavish lifestyle.
In the midst of a divorce, Gary has an idea for a get-rich scheme which involves the brothers starting a property/waterfront business to help with a canal clean-up. The catch is that it means they have to work with Russian mobs to do so.
Irwin doesn’t particularly need the cash. They reside in a middle-class neighbourhood, and he works an honest job. However, they had hoped to send their eldest son Scott (Gavin Goudey) to an Ivy League school, and he wants a lavish 18th birthday party, so a couple bits of extra cash wouldn’t hurt.
What transpires is an expertly done cautionary tale about family, the further deconstruction of the American dream and why you should always mind your own business, especially with the Russian Mafia. Incase you needed reminding.
Larry, nifty with a hammer; dim in terms of street smarts, takes his sons to the canal site for some late-night risk assessment. This insanely boring task becomes near fatal for the three of them. Irwin catches the Russians doing illegal activities and is taken away to have his ID taken. His sons, who remained in the car, don’t fare much better as they are held at knife-point. Risk analysis? I think he’ll tick very likely.
It spirals out of control from that point onwards, but Gray doesn’t let the story get away from him. Despite the imminent danger that hangs over their heads, he keeps the story purely character-driven. It takes a slightly The Godfather approach to its response – slick dialogue, a fantastic tension-driven score, and a warm colour palette.
Paper Tiger is a throwback to classic New York crime. It’s subtle critique on a violent, corrupt system which is built to further dismantle your working-class families which is enthralling to watch.
Rating: 4/5
- Paper Tiger releases in UK cinemas on February 5th 2027
