Paper Tiger Review: A Safe Crime Thriller That Misses Its Mark

James Gray has built a career examining how individual characters and families navigate profound themes—from humanity’s insignificance in the cosmos in Ad Astra to the ruthless American narrative of climbing over others in Armaggeddon Time. His latest feature, Paper Tiger, which premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, follows this thematic tradition but ultimately plays it too safe. Starring Adam Driver and Miles Teller as brothers in 1980s Queens, New York, this crime thriller hits all the expected beats of the genre without delivering the tension or emotional weight needed to truly resonate.

What Is Paper Tiger About?

Paper Tiger follows Irwin (Miles Teller), an honest, hardworking Jewish family man living a comfortable life with his wife Hester (Scarlett Johansson) and two teenage sons. His brother Gary (Adam Driver), a decorated former NYPD inspector, approaches him with a seemingly legitimate business opportunity: collecting waste oil from local sewage systems alongside Russian entrepreneurs.

When Irwin innocently brings his sons to the collection site one night, they witness illegal activities and are violently threatened by the Russians. The family becomes a target, caught in a dangerous crime network where forgiveness is scarce. While Gary promises to resolve the situation, the relentless Russian criminals continue to menace the household.

Gray’s script incorporates familiar themes from Reagan-era America: families pursuing better lives for their children, only to be corrupted by dangerous foreign elements. However, the film never fully commits to these darker implications, instead opting for a thriller-lite approach that avoids genuine tragedy.

The Problem With Playing It Safe

The most tense moment arrives midway through the film when Irwin stands guard on the staircase with a gun, listening to Russian intruders moving furniture downstairs. This scene exemplifies Gray’s subtle portrayal of psychological terror—it’s gripping and immersive. Unfortunately, the rest of Paper Tiger fails to maintain this intensity.

Gray makes every narrative choice audiences expect, resulting in a predictable ending tied with a neat bow and minimal consequences. What could have been a devastating exploration of misplaced intentions becomes a flat domestic drama with superficial commentary on larger societal issues. The film begins and ends at a cautious baseline, never willing to fully explore the crime tragedy the premise promises.

While the direction is competent—particularly in the aforementioned home invasion sequence—much of the film centers on characters having conversations. Gray’s camera work does little to amplify tension or create the psychological dread necessary for a compelling crime thriller.

Strong Performances Elevate Mediocre Material

Adam Driver delivers the film’s standout performance as hustler Gary, bringing understated bravado and complexity to the role. Unlike some of his more eccentric characters, Driver plays Gary with surprising subtlety, maintaining sympathy even as his actions create devastating consequences for his family.

Miles Teller is well-cast as the everyman American hero, though he doesn’t transcend the limitations of his thinly written character. Scarlett Johansson, in a supporting role, provides necessary emotional stakes. Her expressions convey the mounting horror as Gary and Irwin’s actions spiral beyond their control, grounding the film in genuine family drama.

Despite the capable cast and director, Paper Tiger demonstrates that talent alone cannot overcome a script that refuses to take risks.

The Verdict: A Missed Opportunity

Gray and his lead cast are clearly capable of more ambitious, exciting filmmaking. Paper Tiger functions as a perfectly acceptable crime drama—ideal for a casual family viewing experience. However, it’s far from essential viewing.

The Reagan era has inspired numerous superior films exploring American family suffering and moral compromise. Unlike Paper Tiger, those films aren’t afraid to fully confront the darker implications of their era. If you’re seeking a safe, entertaining crime thriller, this Cannes entry delivers. But if you want a film that genuinely reckons with its themes and characters, Paper Tiger ultimately disappoints.