Home » Streaming Flicks » Marty Supreme

Marty Supreme

During last year’s award season, Timothée Chalamet passionately proclaimed that he wanted to be one of the greats. The A COMPLETE UNKNOWN star said that he wanted to join the ranks of legends like Marlon Brando and Daniel Day-Lewis and churn out performances that would not only stand the test of time, but solidify himself as an artist at the top of his craft.

Chalamet’s declaration isn’t mere musings from an actor on a hot streak. Once you look at his resume and the accolades bestowed upon him so early in his career, you begin to realize that he has the makeup to soar to impossible heights. Aside from A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, he gave lauded performances in CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, LADY BIRD, BEAUTIFUL BOY, DUNE, DUNE 2, and WONKA, just to name a few. Now, with his latest turn as the most passionate table tennis player you have ever seen in your life in MARTY SUPREME, he’s considered a front-runner to win his first Best Actor Academy Award.

Director/co-writer Josh Safdie’s film establishes its tone early. Set in the 1950’s yet set to a soundtrack of new-wave 80’s bangers, it instantly feels different. This fact is certainly hammered home through the entirety of its run time, bolstered by searing cinematography, excellent music, and outstanding performances not only from established movie stars like Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow, but also from rapper Tyler, the Creator, and SHARK TANK’s Kevin O’Leary.

Marty Mauser (Chalamet) works as a shoe salesman by day. He’s so great (begrudgingly admitting he could sell shoes to an amputee) that the shop’s owner (and Marty’s uncle) Murray (Larry Sloman) wants to make him a manager and see him settle down. Marty couldn’t care less about being a salesman. While he enjoys the perks the position provides, such as sneaking his childhood friend Rachel (Odessa A’zion) into the backroom for a little fun, his true passion is table tennis. He already knows he is the best in the world and yearns to win the British Open so he can prove it to everyone else. He has the motivation, tenacity, and skill to be the face of the sport, and considers his victory a foregone conclusion.

Once he reaches the Open (thanks to a sketchy bit of financing) he takes notice of newcomer Koto Endo (Koto Kawaguchi), a Japanese player who looks to be his only true competition. Marty isn’t worried, however, and rather than focus on the task at hand, tries his hand at seducing actress Kay Stone (Paltrow). He knows he can use the fading starlet to his advantage and looks to forge a lucrative relationship with her husband, pen mogul Milton Rockwell (O’Leary).

When things don’t bounce Marty’s way at the Open, and Endo proves to be a far more skilled player than could have ever been expected, Marty looks ahead to the World Championships in Tokyo. Though he has opportunities to secure the financing to get there, the narcissistic ping-pong pro squanders these chances by trying to do things his own way. One terrible decision befalls another and soon the grifting catches up with him in truly terrifying ways.

After collaborating with his brother Benny on GOOD TIME and UNCUT GEMS, Safdie flies solo here and has crafted a startlingly memorable film that not only makes you care about ping-pong, but features an insufferable protagonist whose magnetism exacerbates his megalomania. Chalamet plays Marty with a breakneck dedication and vigor that seamlessly highlights his vision of grandeur. There is never a question of whether or not Marthy will attain greatness, it’s just a matter of who he is willing to use, leave, or destroy to get there. And, though we should probably hate him with each progressively terrible decision he makes, he remains begrudgingly endearing due to Chalamet’s truly remarkable turn.