Set across the late Summer of 1986, Paper Tiger introduces us to a family who think they can write their own American dream, but ordinary people aren’t always safe from dark underworlds and the crime gods who control them.
Gary (played by Adam Driver) and Irwin (played by Miles Teller) live in New York. Gary is an ex-cop, halfway through divorce proceedings, who seems to have fortune and power within the city, something his brother Irwin highly respects, although he doesn’t necessarily understand. When Gary invites him to be part of a project that seems above board and a way to generate stacks of cash, Irwin can’t say no, wanting to provide the best for his two teen sons and wife Linda (played by Scarlett Johansson). However when the work introduces them to a group of Russians who want to keep their trade on the downlow, Irwin makes a fatal error when he tries to be friendly.
I really liked the simplicity of the initial catalyst, and watching the domino effect fall into unexpected places as the brothers tried to right their wrongs. Steadily paced throughout, the moments of heightened confrontation were felt by the entire cinema audience, sitting on the edges of our seats in anticipation as noise slowed and the characters had to smartly plan their next moves. These times were exciting, and I often felt I wanted more of them compared to the scenes of everyday living.
Visually, the film was a treat. Setting itself firmly within the era, it used sunlight, lamps and street lights to frame each moment with yellow and orange hues, shadows stalking the corners, diffused brightness pushing through. One element of the film that added tension in a unique way was sound. Taking the soundscape of the area around them, working drills became drum beats, the hum of the TV adding to the unease, and my favourite was the drone of planes flying over, muting the sound on the ground below. A must listen in a cinema or home set up with brilliant speakers!
At the heart of the film is a relationship between two brothers, both incredibly different but always returning to the fact that they are there for each other. Opposites in many ways, Driver and Teller play a pair you like immediately. We see ourselves in them, as kind yet savvy people who hope for the best. The thought that life can change immediately isn’t something they think about, until they have to be on their toes and ready for attack. Cause and effect chasing each other as more people become involved.
It’s lovely seeing the brotherhood between Irwin’s sons too, who begin the film as classic highschoolers who are ready to take on the world. Yet when they become involved with their father’s business, join forces through shared trauma, finally appreciating the readymade friend they have in each other. There isn’t much mirroring between old and young, but you can imagine that Gary and Irwin see themselves in the youngsters.
Smoke drifts, lamps hiss, life continues. Paper Tiger leaves you thinking how life can suddenly change, but is a firm reminder that family love cannot be beaten, even if you don’t have the winning hand.
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