Le tigre

I am surprised how harsh these people on IMDb are towards this great film. Just shows you how critical people can be and perhaps even a bit cynical. I was moved by this film, from the sad theme that plays in the beginning, to swayze's performance which I must agree carries the film. I was very well acted, and the emotions all the characters feel are real. even the annoying unforgiving sister, some part of me thinks that well, I can understand why she feels the way she does towards tiger. He did a lot of bad things. I was very sad for him, the scene when he meets his mom for the first time in years was so moving, I almost teared up. You just really see that he wants to change his life, one small step at a time, even getting a job as a checkout clerk at the local store, as lowly as it is he wants to change his life and you cant help but realize how true to life this really is. it touches home in many ways. the only one who understands him are his friend and old flame, who was beautiful and relatable. She like tiger is remembered for having a rather sordid reputation, she used to sleep around with the jocks and was the town whore I suppose. But both of them need those second chances, I felt bad when he decided to leave her and the kids, and that he almost commits suicide....it was just such a sad sad story but a beautiful one, and anyone who cant enjoy this, who cant see how hurt families can be and I suppose I can understand this story myself. If your a cynic or a critic, or both, don't watch this. If your an actual human with a heart and love smaller scale character drama's about family forgiveness and redemption, watch this. You wont be disappointed.

Paced akin to that of a funeral, Tiger Warsaw sees the loveable Patrick Swayze trapped in time as a 70s greaser coming home in a melodramatic tale of reconciliation. There is no other reason to seek this out outside of Swayze, who broods sentimentality throughout the movie with an unshakeable boyish charm, he's just been saddled with a truly terrible screenplay. Drifting drearily along until, with about 10 minutes to go, it ends in a rushed wrap, as though somebody suddenly realized that time was up. It's mainly just a series of encounters with no oomph or style while Amin Q. Chaudhri's direction leaves most of the film completely incomprehensible with poorly lit and uncomfortably long shots dominating the runtime. If I can give it any form of praise outside of its main star, some of the songs on the soundtrack do slap but, other than that, Tiger Warsaw is a fraught movie that lurches between trauma and tearjerker. Driving towards a predictable conclusion, carrying the dubious message that matrimonial bliss and domestic harmony is the ultimate aspiration.

Director Chaudhri's foreign birth comes through loud and clear in this mess of a movie. Swayze's Tiger Warsaw has supposedly done something so terrible it has turned his entire family against him, but it's never made clear exactly what this horrible deed was. Peeping Tom, maybe? When he meets up with an old hometown buddy their reaction to each other can only be described as homosexual, but nothing further in that direction develops. There is also another odd and brief scene in a bar where he is accosted by another old classmate who is now a cross-dresser. I can only assume this kind of stuff has some meaning in India or Pakistan, but it makes no sense in an American movie. Which is obviously what the studio thought since they premiered it outside of the USA. The only good things about the movie are the cool motorcycle jacket Swayze wears throughout, and the bitchin' '68 black Road Runner he drives.

This was a surprising role for Patrick Swayze after the run away success of Dirty Dancing, but perhaps he wanted to secure himself as a character actor rather than simply a dancing, smouldering romantic lead. And this he does. Whilst this film doesn't garner much attention, it is nevertheless a piece of drama of high calibre. Overall, it is uplifting and a story of triumph and love, but it gets there via the medium of a rather dreary, grey film full of clever direction that takes advantage of the mill-town backwater working class experience and turns it into something stylised and arty. The scene cuts, if you watch them, the use of silence, the use of bells or the train whistle, Tiger's frustration and mounting anger set against the rolling stock of the train going past... it's actually rather beautiful. The stand out performances are most definitely Swayze and Barbara Williams (Kiki) and you can see her powerful stage presence clearly - I can imagine she was a wonderful Lady MacBeth. Piper Laurie I thought was too contrived, her face immobile (all the female characters except Kiki had FAR too much make up) but emotive and honest; you were very much sympathetic to her but much of the rest of the acting was mediocre with exception of Lee Richardson, the father, and there were some remarkably tender scenes between the two parents. The child actors - Kiki's children - were terrible. Swayze showed a range and depth demonstrating how good he was, especially with the backdrop of very little by way of excitement or colour; it really was him, the camera and little else except raw emotion a lot of the time. He carried the film. It was definitely an 80s film and it looks old and weary, brought to life by Swayze in his prime, and he looked amazing.

This film has at it's heart a family crisis and the longterm effects, guilt, regret, fear, heartache, self-loathing and misunderstanding that can poison a family, and a community, and how reconciliation can be achieved and the painful process it can be. It is clear what the crux of the crisis was, it is shown through increasingly revealing flashbacks and through dialogue, and with the spectre of drug and alcohol abuse it is plausible and relatable. I had not seen this film for a long time, and forgotten how lovely it is, but whilst I enjoy it, I am well aware that it's not a great film.

The interesting thing about Swayze is that he "did" this movie... more or less after Dirty Dancing. After the success of Dirty Dancing Swayze could've done anything - instead he decides to tell the simple and sad tale of one families personal tragic past.

A big career mistake? I don't think so, this is a fine movie and a fine vehicle for Swayze to explore his talent. In all fields this film has strength... the acting and cast are rock solid... the location work is fabulous and the story, although tame compared to todays standards still hits the target solidly. The only thing that shows through in parts is the budget is lacking. Swayze does well as the out casted son weaving his sentimental spell as the movie unfolds its mystery. The simple sense of futility and overwhelming sadness in this film is all due to Swayze acting his part so well.

Sure this is not a blockbuster - and on it's budget it wasn't supposed to be, but as entertainment value (which is what movies are all about) this is a fine piece of work. Watch it!