★★★★½
James Gray’s latest film, Paper Tiger, is a slow-burning period crime drama that is character-driven and focuses on a family’s struggles rather than the criminal aspects.
Following two brothers chasing the American dream in late-80s New York, one is a retired NYPD officer who’s become well-off in the private sector, while the other is an engineer trying to expand his business.
When Irwin’s brother, Gary, a former NYPD officer, presents him with an opportunity to consult as an advisor for a sewage management company owned by the Russians, things escalate quickly as they become entangled in an illegal scheme involving the Russian mafia.
Penned by Gray, the film offers a different perspective than what we normally get within the crime drama genre.
Tailoring the narrative into a character piece about family bonds, honor, and the principles that define one’s moral character.
Crafting a story around two brothers who accidentally stumble into a scheme with the Russian mafia while trying to conduct legitimate business offers an insightful and new take. Focusing on the impact one wrong business deal has on an innocent civilian family.
Offering a different perspective on a very common theme: organized crime in the 80s and the influence it had on government contracts, labor unions, waste management, and politics, along with police corruption.
Gary is a former NYPD officer who branched out into the private sector, making a name for himself within the more influential circles of New York. Meanwhile, his brother is a scholar with a master’s in engineering, a modest business, and nothing to really show for it.
“The film’s centerpiece is its characters, and its backbone is how they all justify their actions.”
Both brothers and Irwin’s wife, played by Scarlett Johansson, are complex and self-righteous characters.
They all believe they know what is best and act according to what they believe is the right thing to do, even when it’s completely self-destructive. The film doesn’t judge them but indulges them, making for an intriguing character study.
Gray’s directorial vision is what brings the film to life, creating a tone that is even-keeled, distinctive, and memorable. His approach to creating the tone and pacing through score and cinematography is what makes the film stand out.
“Crafting a smooth, steady family drama, where the criminal underworld is the backdrop.”
The way he approaches the third-act climax is substantial. Gray manages to create heightened emotional turmoil using crisp cinematography and score, offering a memorable, intense, and distinctive moment without offsetting the tone and pacing.
Joaquín Baca-Asay’s cinematography is exceptional. The shots throughout the film are subtle yet hold great value in crafting the emotional weight of the scenes and the film’s overall tone.
Especially the way he lights the scenes, using lighting to create tension and tone. From the dark lighting used in the scene when Gary has a sit-down with the boss in the second act to the sequence when Irwin is coming down the stairs in the middle of the night with a rifle.
The way he uses shadows not only creates tension but also crafts the shot as a whole. Baca-Asay uses shadows to convey the scene instead of relying on Miles Teller. It’s an incredibly crafted sequence that showcases both Gray’s vision and Baca-Asay’s execution.
Not to mention the cornfield sequence, which I personally think is one of the best-shot sequences in the film. The way Baca-Asay creates tension using cinematography is unparalleled by any other moment in the film.
Paired with a fantastic score by Christopher Spelman, a score that is strong yet never overwhelming. Throughout the film, Spelman offers great moments that heighten the film. From the score accompanying the scene of Teller walking down the stairs during the break-in to the scene right after Irwin and the kids get home from the night audit.
“Adam Driver gives the best performance of his career.”
Paper Tiger is stacked with stellar performances from Teller, Johansson, and Driver, along with the entire supporting cast. It’s one of those films where you have an entire cast who elevate the film with their performances, yet their performances don’t define the film.
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