Marty Supreme was released on Dec. 25, the second year in a row that a film starring Timothée Chalamet came out on Christmas day. What better way to spend the holidays than a character-driven, ambitious sports drama about the trials and tribulations of table tennis? This movie packs a punch with witty dialogue and unique storytelling that doesn’t get buried in style, which can be so common in independent A24 productions. The conversations Marty holds with characters to scheme his way up to the top is done with electric precision and leaves no room for hangtime between sequences.
As his first solo directorial debut, Josh Safdie excelled beyond expectations. He utilized actors to their full potential by keeping the film’s characters centered around their interpersonal conflicts but still relating them back to the linear story. He went above and beyond setting the scenes to feel of the 50’s era through its vintage Lower East Side New York costuming and various references to World War II. His previous projects were collaborations with his brother, Benny Safdie. They received critical acclaim for hits such as Good Time (2017) and Uncut Gems (2019).
Josh Safdie made his mark with Marty Supreme and definitely created some cultural buzz. Promotion was at an all time high—designing custom jackets and distributing them to chosen celebrities, commodifying orange ping pong balls, and even Chalamet collaborating on a remix on the song “4 Raws” with British rapper EsDeeKid. Needless to say, the engagement and marketing made me very curious about the angle of the film and I was pleasantly surprised with the direction they took.
From the trailers, I was expecting a classic fiery journey to stardom. However, the Ferris Bueller likeness of the protagonist Marty Mauser made me instantly realize just what kind of movie this was. It’s not exactly a heroic tale. It’s not meant to be. Marty is unlikeable, conniving and twisted, yet maintains enough charisma for the audience to continue to root for him. Marty screws over people countless times to stay on the path to achieve the goal that was never promised to him. Like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Marty even borrows and trashes his best friend’s father’s car and is more than laissez-faire about the ordeal. I believe it is a true testament to the incredible writing that every action Marty takes to attempt to become the greatest table tennis player feels justified, no matter the outcome.
The cast for this movie reflects its characters in a unique way that I haven’t noticed in a lot of other films. Established Academy Award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow plays the famous, washed-up Kay Stone as she begins to break back into the theater scene. Business man Kevin O’Leary is also known as Mr. Wonderful on the television show “Shark Tank” for his savvy, no-nonsense personality. O’Leary is featured in Marty Supreme as Kay Stone’s husband, Milton Rockwell, the wealthy antagonist.
Both O’Leary and Paltrow knock it out of the park as their characters wrestle with the anomaly that is Marty Mauser. I believe a part of why they’re so compelling is that they’re nearly playing parodies of themselves– the older retired socialite and the millionaire salesman mogul. It feels very purposeful from the casting director.
All in all, Chalamet as an actor is one thing above all else—passionate. Like A Complete Unknown (2024), Chalamet was listed as a producer for Marty Supreme. You can tell how much he loves embellishing himself in a character that he cares about. He unabashedly commits to every role he plays– like learning the guitar for A Complete Unknown and training for six years at ping pong to adequately prepare himself for Marty Supreme. His dedication pays off well by constantly delivering quality performances and solidifying himself as Hollywood’s best young leading man.
I strongly recommend seeing the film in theaters to witness Chalamet on the big screen. Although its intended audience could be individuals who love action and the fast-paced nature of sports dramas, I believe the movie has a little bit of everything for everyone. It’s so much more than a sports drama.
