‘Paper Tiger’ Review: An American Tragedy
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- James Gray’s “Paper Tiger” is a dark, intimate crime drama set in 1986 New York, focusing on complex family dynamics and the American dream’s constraints.
- The story centers on two brothers: Gary, a retired NYPD officer turned security consultant with a flashy lifestyle, and Irwin, who lives a modest life in Queens with his family.
- Gary’s arrival at Irwin’s home is dramatic and imposing, highlighting both the familial love and the tension within their small, cramped lives.
- The film uses rich, realistic settings and character interactions to build foreboding and suspense, especially around Gary’s risky business proposition and the symbolic presence of his gun.
