Written by: Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma
Rating: [4.5/5]
Dreaming big and trying to achieve something others would never dare achieve requires an insane level of determination and at least a dash of self-absorption. It stems from a belief that no other option but success lies before them. Wherever the average person would turn back and quit, this individual will bet every penny they own to prove they can achieve what they seek. This aptly describes the character we follow in Marty Supreme as he will stop at nothing and burn every bridge possible to become the best table tennis player in the world.
Temporarily applying his trade as a shoe salesman, Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet) also competes competitively in the world of table tennis with dreams to strike it big and leave behind his normal life. After not reaching the heights he dreamed of for himself, he continuously uses others and what they can provide him in order to get another opportunity to win big.
Knowing someone like Marty Mauser spells bad news, seeing as he will eventually come knocking on your door for a favor he will surely never pay back. That pretty much summarizes the lead character of this film. He will stop at nothing to achieve a goal that others may view as silly but he believes would cause a shift in the way an entire country views a sport. He will lie, cheat, and steal from anyone along the way, and we get to go on this ride with him to see just how far he will go and what, if anything, can potentially stop him.
As hateable as he may be, Marty has a gumption to him that makes for great entertainment because his level of ruthlessness and carelessness places him in disconcerting situations perfect for a feature film. Just when you think he has no other moves left, he manages to find a way to keep the gravy train going for himself. That deserves at least some credit and it makes it the perfect type of story for Josh Safdie to tell with its frantic pace and questionable decision-making.
Each decision Marty makes comes with a mix of seriousness and comedy to it because he does find himself in some of the most ridiculous situations imaginable. The fact he sits in a bathtub that crashes down on a mobster, who then pays Marty to take his dog to a vet, displays a truly unbelievable sequence of events. That alone could serve as the plot for a single feature film, yet it represents one of the many storylines occurring within this film. Much of what happens to Marty carries humor, but one of the deeper components of this journey occurs in how much his selfishness blinds him to the fact his actions cause major consequences for the individuals who go out on a limb to help him. In a way the film repeats this same pattern throughout. Someone from his life opts to help him either because they believe in him or just want to do him a solid. For everything they do and risk for him, he manages to screw them over as he treats them as just another piece in this large game he plays for himself and his interests.
The major question remains when watching this film, which is at one point, will this crazy ride of his end, and what relationships of his will remain intact? The film answers this very question but not without taking the audience through the most stressful moments for all involved, including some very intense table tennis as well. This element also deserves heaps of praise. Table tennis does not necessarily hit the top of the lists of spectator sports, at least in the United States. This very notion drives Marty as he hopes to win big in the international tournaments so that it does gain traction in his home country, but this film manages to capture the intensity and skill of this sport incredibly well. Each match Marty partakes in, especially against the other professionals, carries this fervor and intensity many would not necessarily think of with table tennis. Each point matters, and Marty ensures he plays like each game could be his very last where the music stops, he has no favors to call on, and life traps him in a way he has run away from for so long now.
Embodying this character immaculately, Timothée Chalamet steps into the role of Marty Mauser and delivers a tour-de-force performance. Chalamet has never failed as an actor, in my estimation, as he continues to improve and challenge himself as a thespian. He has already developed quite the CV of characters and roles he has taken on perfectly. By the time he reaches the end of his career, his performance as Mauser will sit in the pantheon of his incredible run as an actor. He displays what makes Mauser such a complete scumbag but also helps demand the respect of this character and his outright refusal to even believe for a second that his grand plan would fail. An easily hateable character becomes extremely lovable as well and that stands as a testament to the work Chalemet delivers here.
Stressful, exhilarating, irritating, and terrifying all summarize the feelings of watching Marty Supreme. A character journey filled with bad decisions, broken promises, and determination makes for a film Josh Safdie crafts incredibly well. His collaboration with Chalamet and the rest of this fun cast produces something easily entertaining but also meaningful in the manner Mauser navigates his life and the ultimate conclusion reached in this production. An all-around sensational film that will continue to maintain its staying power because of the power of belief oozing from its lead character, but also a warning sign of just how far an individual like him would go to achieve his goals.
Films with Josh 
