Marty Supreme is set within the 1950's and tells the story of Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), a young man pursuing his dream to become a table tennis world champion at any cost.
This is the latest film from Josh Safdie, one half of the Safdie brothers duo that directed Good Time and Uncut Gems. Marty Supreme feels like the third instalment in an unofficial trilogy that chronicles flawed and somewhat unlikeable characters, as they navigate a plethora of scenarios that continue to spiral out of control. Robert Pattinson and Adam Sandler led those earlier films and it's Timothee Chalamet who takes the centre stage in this feature.
Marty Supreme is an electrifying drama that is a crime caper disguised as a sports film. The way Josh Safdie and co-writer Ronald Bronstein juggle multiple genres is one of the films strongest qualities. It's relentlessly entertaining partially because it shifts between different genres with ease, whilst in the background building towards the next outrageous scenario Marty finds himself caught up in. This is not a sports film in a traditional sense because it has far more to offer, beyond the foundation of focusing on a character in an unbreakable pursuit of achieving success. The narrative is a series of increasingly wild events that are constantly escalating due to Marty's desperate and poor decisions. It's genuinely hilarious to watch unfold, and its refreshing to see a film loaded with plenty of humour that felt organic due to the situations, and just how much of egomaniac the lead character is.
Timothee Chalamet is superb and yet again delivers unquestionable evidence that he is the standout male actor of his generation. A film such as this demands a very particular type of performance to drive it forward, and Timothee provides all that it requires and more. On a fundamental level, Marty is not a good person. He's a narcissist who displays no concern for others regardless of how his actions impact them. He is only focused on what he can gain from using others as a step ladder to where he believes he should be. It's a major credit to Timothee that he is able to make a character of that nature enjoyable to watch, instead of irritating because in lesser hands that could've easily been the outcome. Marty is a fast talking know it all with an ego so large that he never feels small in any room, even when it’s filled with people who have achieved far greater success than him.
Much has been said about Timothee's commitment to the role, having trained to be efficient at table tennis years before cameras started rolling on this picture. His dedication pays off because in a number of unbroken shots, we see his ping pong flair on display. The table tennis action draws you in as the momentum shifts back and forth like a pendulum. There’s less time spent on these matches than I expected, but they remain entertaining when they do appear.
The cast is rounded out by a good ensemble that includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Tyler Okonma and Kevin O'Leary, all of whom bare significance within Marty's quest for success. Gwyneth Paltrow leaves the strongest impression as a retired actress who finds herself caught within Marty’s web of madness, which puts her in a position that threatens her reputation and marriage with a powerful businessman portrayed by Kevin O’Leary.
Thematically Marty Supreme centres itself on the idea of pursuing greatness. The marketing campaign focused on popular figures who came from nothing and achieved great success. That proved to be a smart and memorable way to advertise the film by carving a place in the pop culture zeitgeist. When watching the film I found it interesting to discover that Marty doesn't fit into that category, because he and the film itself isn't as straight laced as the marketing campaign would imply. It's a fascinating juxtaposition and I'm unsure whether it was intentional. I found myself at multiple points during this film, questioning whether I wanted Marty to succeed and whether I felt he even deserved it. In that sense the film does highlight the flawed qualities that can consume people, with this all or nothing mindset when it comes to their aspirations. I like that this story operates in a grey area, whereas a more generic version of this story would try to absolve the lead character of all their flaws, and make them someone the audience should aspire to be. Instead with Marty there are aspects of his success driven mindset that are both relatable and inspiring, but the film doesn't let you acknowledge those qualities, without giving you constant reminders of the negative traits that can stem from that mindset.
The pacing is as rapid as Marty's relentless desire to succeed and that greatly contributes to the domino effect of his actions, and the consequences that he experiences throughout the film. That being said, the run time is too long and I felt it the most during a period of time beyond the half way point. I was still entertained but I felt some fatigue with its chaos. It would benefit from being trimmed to a leaner 120 minutes.
The choice to set this story in 1952 is an inspired one that helps evoke a classic feeling. Marty Supreme wouldn't feel out of place within the 70's and 80's era of Scorsese's filmography, when he directed many films with a younger Robert De Niro. It's of that ilk and the period accurate New York setting feels tangible due to the excellent production design.
Daniel Lopatin's score is entrancing and served as a core component for creating a vibe that absorbs you as you witness the film unfold. It can't be understated how important the sound is within this film. It elevates the scenes and provides greater intensity when it’s required, and a sense of euphoria in other moments.
Like the sport of table tennis, Marty Supreme is a high energy, entertaining affair that is led by an electric performance from Timothee Chalamet. The relentless series of escapades and electronic score combine to create a riveting drama about chasing your dreams.
★ ★ ★ ★
This review was written by Terrelle Graham
Marty Supreme. Starring Timothee Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Tyler Okonma and Kevin O’Leary. Directed by Josh Safdie. Runtime 150 minutes.