Marty Supreme review: Timothée Chalamet’s performance makes us reflect on how far is too far in the pursuit of dreams!

While Marty Supreme is loosely inspired by the real-life table tennis legend Marty Reisman, the film’s screenplay is Josh Safdie’s own creation, proving his genius filmmaking!

The film follows the story of Marty Mauser (Timothee Chalamet), a shoe salesman in 1950s New York who aspires to be the world’s best tennis player. He works at his uncle’s shop to feed himself, but his heart and soul lie in becoming the greatest tennis player. But the journey isn’t as simple as it seems. Very soon into the movie, when Marty holds his colleague at gunpoint for some cash, we realise the length he can go in pursuit of his goals.

And that’s just the beginning of what the film explores in terms of his capabilities to get what he wants. He refuses to look after his mother, or his pregnant girlfriend initially because of his dreams and looks for opportunities ruthlessly that lend him money for travelling to other championship events. Marty is a flawed man right from the first frame but the film never glorifies his actions or intent; it just very sincerely tells a tale of a man who could go to any lengths in pursuit of his dreams.

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What I really liked about the technical aspects of the film is the colour palette it uses. It definitely transports you into the olden times, and the graininess of the visuals mirror the moral grey zone the characters inhabit. The extreme close-ups used in the film help you get immersed in this film’s world. The music, too, doesn’t disappoint and adds intensity to the screenplay. The table tennis scenes are top-notch and feel like we are actually watching a real-time match. All in all, the cinematography, fast-paced screenplay and crisp editing makes the film technically solid.

The director’s previous films, Good Time and Uncut Gems, were also unapologetically intense. There is a certain freeness in his direction that never fails to explore the messiness and complexity of life. Every 10 minutes, Marty Supreme delivers a surprise with anxiety-inducing moments of thrill. But they also have a touch of comedic flavour because, despite the intense turns, the protagonist still successfully manages to get out of the situation.

At the heart of the movie is the central performance by Timothee Chalamet. He is fully committed to the role and gives an uninhibited performance. Supporting actors, Odessa A’zion and Tyler, the Creator, are brilliant too. Each character in the film brings a unique energy to the film, adding the right amount of chaos that makes the story such a thrilling experience. The climax beautifully gives a nice arc to the film’s protagonist, making him a three-dimensional character. While the ending of the film can have different interpretations, what I took away is the character’s self-realisation of his actions and understanding the real joys of life. 

Marty Supreme is currently playing at a theatre near you!

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