Movie Review: Timothée Chalamet Achieves Greatness in Kinetic “Marty Supreme”
There’s an argument to be made that Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), the protagonist of Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme,” could be the father of Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), the protagonist of Josh and Benny Safdie’s 2019 cinematic panic attack “Uncut Gems.” Marty and Howard are versions of the same character: Jewish New York City hustlers addicted to risky business; inveterate gamblers who believe that just one more bet is going to pay off. As noted by film critic, Peter Travers, “Marty Supreme” is a film that “explores the darker side of the American Dream” (Rolling Stone).
For this solo directorial outing, Josh Safdie and his longtime collaborator Ronald Bronstein, with whom he wrote and edited “Marty Supreme,” continue to mine the same milieu. (Benny headed West for his first solo film, the MMA biopic “The Smashing Machine.”) “Marty Supreme” is inspired by the real-life characters of the mid-century table tennis scene in New York City (specifically Marty Reisman), and it’s a film designed around the New York City-born and -bred movie star Chalamet. According to an interview with Vanity Fair, Safdie stated that “Marty Supreme” is a film about “the cost of ambition” and the “corrosive nature of American capitalism”.
Many will assume that Marty Mauser is the performance that is most like Chalamet, and it’s clear that there has been some transference between character and actor in the past year, particularly Marty’s cheery braggadocio. But Safdie and Bronstein have a unique ability to pair performer and role, to write to an actor’s perhaps previously untapped potential, as they did with Sandler in “Uncut Gems,” and Chalamet does achieve greatness here, in one of the best performances of his career thus far. As The New York Times notes, Chalamet’s performance is “a revelation” and “a testament to his versatility as an actor”.
Plot and Themes
“Marty Supreme” is a breathless, breakneck sprint through the Lower East Side of 1952 (beautifully rendered by legendary production designer Jack Fisk), where Marty holds top dog position in the table tennis scene. His next stop? The world. He steals $700 from his job at his uncle’s shoe store in order to make it to the world championships in London. That’s one of his first big risks — the other being a backroom quickie with his married childhood friend, Rachel (Odessa A’zion, who perfectly matches pitch with Chalamet). A river of consequences and bad decisions cascade from that inciting incident, which we follow with much anxiety and amusement. As The Guardian notes, the film is “a thrilling and intense ride” that “explores the highs and lows of Marty’s journey”.
In London, Marty seduces a movie star, Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow), introduces her wealthy husband Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary), an ink-pen impresario, to the untapped market potential of table tennis, and is roundly beaten in the finals by Koto Endo (Koto Kawaguchi), a deaf Japanese player who developed his own method for learning the sport, and displays a savant-like skill that stumps even Marty. According to Forbes, the film’s portrayal of the table tennis scene is “authentic and immersive” and “a testament to the sport’s global appeal”.
It’s a stroke of genius to cast Canadian businessman O’Leary, best known for the reality show “Shark Tank,” in his first acting role as a rich benefactor. His Rockwell indeed functions as a “shark” for Marty, offering a business arrangement to bring him to Japan for another table tennis tournament, but he’s also a predator ready to devour. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, O’Leary’s performance is “a scene-stealer” and “a highlight of the film”.
Conclusion
“Marty Supreme” is a truly staggering American epic about finally learning that hustle is never going to love you back — even if chasing it can be a thrill, at least for a moment. In this anxiety-riddled portrait of the corrosive nature of American capitalism, sports is merely the vessel, but it’s still the kind of movie that will make you want to stand up and cheer. With a runtime of 2:30 and an MPA rating of R, “Marty Supreme” is a must-see film for fans of Josh Safdie and Timothée Chalamet. For more information, visit Here.
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