Multiple reviews describe “Paper Tiger” as James Gray’s operatically intense crime drama set in mid-1980s Queens, New York, centering on two brothers drawn into a dangerous Russian mafia scheme that escalates into a terrifying threat to their families. The film stars Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller as members of or connected to a tightly knit community shaped by loyalty, betrayal, and coded relationships within both the Russian-American milieu and the NYPD world. Several outlets emphasize Gray’s distinctive cinematic atmosphere—described in terms of mythic scale, tragedy, and a mournful, lived-in visual palette—alongside the director’s attention to family dynamics, including scenes involving family meals and the pressures of protecting loved ones. Performances are highlighted across sources, with particular praise for Driver, Johansson and Teller. Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter characterize the plot as a semi-fictionalized return to Gray’s family life and a brush with the Russian mob. IndieWire and The Guardian also frame the story as both personal and sweepingly mythic. Variety notes that while Gray’s direction is skilled, the film can struggle with plausibility as it blends grandiosity with plot developments. Overall reactions are strongly positive, with attention to both craft and character-driven stakes.