Gray's 'Paper Tiger' Opens NYFF as Oscar Contender — SkimNews
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- Neon bypassed Telluride and Toronto to make "Paper Tiger" the North American premiere and opening night film at NYFF's 64th edition, aiming to kick off an awards-season run straight out of Alice Tully Hall.
- NYFF artistic director Dennis Lim said he wanted the film for opening night after watching it last spring, and the screening marked NYFF's first 35mm opener in some years.
- James Gray thanked Neon for making 35mm prints, quipping "fire up the Model T" about the format choice; the film opens in 35mm on November 13.
- Miles Teller delivers what attendees called his most mature performance as a hardworking Queens father in 1986, entering a Best Actor race the source calls "ridiculously crowded."
- Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver are positioned in Supporting, with Johansson's two 2020 nominations and Driver's back-to-back nods for "BlacKkKlansman" and "Marriage Story" giving both established Oscar track records.
- The NYFF lineup of more than 100 films also includes the Venice-winning Gaza documentary "Naza," A24's "You Can See Everything" (October 16), and Tony Gilroy's Centerpiece Gala "Behemoth!" (Searchlight, December 4).
Why it matters: With Teller in his most mature turn as a credible Best Actor contender and Johansson and Driver bringing combined Oscar pedigree in Supporting, "Paper Tiger" enters a stacked awards season with a strong actors-branch play — but the source flags that critical support and decent box office will be decisive for an Oscar newbie in a packed field.
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