--SPOILER ALERT--- I was a bit disappointed with this film as it is the work of John Boorman. The acting is played out nicely and the way the film flows is quite OK. But still my expectations were higher.It's one of those films that has a better synopsis than the film itself is. I had the feeling that Boorman can't decide what this film is.Nevertheless his professional touch in the films visual world is well handled and the turning points that we find out of the twin brother are quite unique.But just somehow the way the story line ends, is a bit like an episode of Emmerdale.It has something to do with the balance of the film. The beginning scene with the main character sitting in the car and being introduced via telephone calls is so superb as a start, you start to except more.But after this scene the world of the main character is cliché filled and the characters around him feel like paper. They don't breathe as human beings as the main characters role does.Another thing is that you have unbalanced roles inside the film. It seems like some of the actors are acting in a different movie than Gleeson's main character.Also the whole hospital sequence disturbed me a lot and I didn't believe it for a second.Not a must, but if you need a well done no-brainer, then it suits your needs.

John Boorman has written & directed many fine films,This however is not one of his memorable ones.This being said, I must add that a second rate film by this master writer/ director is better than many if not most of the so called better dramas on the screen today.This is a family type drama about family relationships,& a secret from the past that has just come to light.This movie was made in & about Dublin, Ireland.The cast comprises some of the better actors in Irish cinema. Brendan Gleeson in a dual role is excellent. In worthy support areKim Cattrall,Ciarrin Hinds,Sinead Cusack & in his debut roleBriain Gleeson (he is Brendans real life son) as the son.The story is complicated,But I was able to follow it all the way.I wish they had a less contrived plot development towards the end.I usually enjoy father-son relationships,thusly I did like this.Ratings: *** (out of 4) 88 points (out of 100) IMDb 8 (out of 10)

Weaving in philosophical quandaries of doppelganger definitions of self with taut suspense and scathing social commentary, writer/director John Boorman's latest film dripped with promise. And while this may have been a promise superseded by the film's overambitious reach, The Tiger's Tail proves an entertaining amalgamation, despite the frequent creative misfires. Boasting an intriguing premise, the film is at its strongest when dealing with the central plot thread of a wealthy Irish businessman (Gleeson) having his comfortable life usurped by his violently unpredictable twin (also Gleeson), falling into destitution in the process. This effective, almost Hitchcockian thriller toying with notions of doppelgangers, sense of self and definition of identity makes for a sturdy start, which sadly ends all too soon, falling short of the taut suspense piece it could have been. After this central storyline has run its course, the film begins to waver, jerking around with contrived plot twists and becoming somewhat of a confused muddle before culminating in a genuinely unorthodox if unsatisfying ending. Imbalance is the word of choice as the film's tone and plot flip-flop throughout, stuffing in as much social critique into the narrative as possible and slathering everything on rather thickly, from the central theme of the rich/poor divide (though whether Ireland's is truly the most dramatically so in all of Europe, as the film states is questionable) to the soaring crescendo of dramatic music, while underplaying the development of other intriguing plot threads (O'Leary seems oddly unsurprised by the unnerving discovery of his secret sordid past) to underwhelming effect. However, director Boorman excels in his less than flattering, darkly satirical depiction of contemporary Dublin: indeed "a land Joyce would hardly recognize" and a far cry from the country's usual romanticized cinematic portrayals. Boorman's Dublin is a rank, filthy place more akin to the worst days of New York, filled with poverty, destitution, endless traffic, street-fights and vomiting teens - a city who would whimsically release their entire supply of non-violent mental patients onto the street to cut costs, in one of the film's most staggering lapses in judgement. An ode to the city's culture this isn't, but an intriguing cinematic cry for change it is. But in the end, despite the noticeably flawed delivery, the film proves a consistently entertaining watch, never slowing down enough to become anything less than enjoyable, if slightly frantically so. Brendan Gleeson shines in a much needed starring role, wonderfully essaying both the grimly successful businessman and his shady identical twin with convincing distinctions and charisma to spare. However, the horrifyingly miscast Kim Cattrall easily proves the film's weakest point, her performance as consistently unconvincing as her shriekingly insulting attempt at an Irish accent. From her wobbling between unsatisfied wife to vacant shopaholic, to her never once reacting to the events surrounding her in a convincing fashion, coming as low as succumbing to attempted rape with sordid glee, Cattrall's performance and character scream of every shade of wrong. Briain Gleeson, real life son of star Brendan is an endearing and amusing presence as the protagonist's communist enthusiast son, even if he lacks the necessary exposition to jump from being wryly cynical to melodramatically disenchanted with life. Ciarán Hinds is a charming addition as a well meaning priest, and Sinéad Cusack does her best to keep herself from veering over the top in a laughably poorly written role as the mysterious family member connected to both O'Leary and his dark counterpart. However imbalanced and overambitious the film may be, overlooking character and narrative development for over-obvious social critique, The Tiger's Tail remains a uniquely entertaining anomaly in spite of itself, anchored by a well deserved star turn by Gleeson. While hardly one of the strongest pieces of Irish cinema to emerge of late, the film remains an enjoyable and intriguing watch for those willing to side-step its frequently flawed delivery. -6/10

Hmm.Sadly, "The Tiger's Tail" is rubbish, and a major disappointment, because John Boorman is a great director who has made some great films. You know what I'm talking about. "Point Blank", "Deliverance", "Excalibur", "The General", "The Tailor Of Panama", "Beyond Rangoon", "The Emerald Forest". You can look up the others for yourselves.Brenda Gleeson plays Liam O'Leary, a Dublin property developer, who's life gets changed completely when he finds himself being stalked by a doppelganger.I have no idea what happened here, but "The Tiger's Tail" is a complete misfire and a total waste of an interesting actor in Brendan Gleeson. It fails completely as a drama and/or a black comedy, chiefly because it is not dramatic enough and it is not funny enough. I can suspend belief as well as the next man, but I didn't believe a word of "The Tiger's Tail".And the cardinal sin? "The Tiger's Tail" is boring, boring, boring, dull, dull, dull. Maybe I'm missing the subtext somewhere. I'm not too clever.Such a shame. Onto the next one, Mister Boorman.