One could call Marty Mauser a plethora of things: a hustler, a showman, an underdog. A “good person” is certainly not one of the terms that come to mind first. But you find yourself rooting for him anyway, despite it all.
The year is 1952, and ping-pong, or table tennis, is hardly considered a sport. Yet Marty knows that it’s on quickly on the rise, and he will stop at nothing to be great. Even if that means scamming, hustling, and shaking down family members, friends, and rich strangers.
“Marty Supreme” is directed by Josh Safdie, who makes up half of the film director duo Safdie brothers. Known for their anxiety-inducing thrillers like “Uncut Gems” (2019) and “Good Time” (2017), so it’s no surprise that “Marty Supreme” is any less stressful.
The film is one of the most immersive I’ve seen; the moment the opening credits roll, it’s almost as if a trapdoor has opened and you’ve fallen in without prior warning. Every part of “Marty Supreme” works harmoniously together, from set and score to script and performance.
The performances are top-notch; leading man Timothée Chalamet has had a run of the past few years — from “Dune: Part 2” to “A Complete Unknown,” it’s hard to expect anything less from him. Chalamet has no trouble transforming into Marty Mauser, with his thin-wired ‘50s frames and blemishes so real co-star Gwenyth Paltrow told him to try micro-needling. Hollywood’s newest nepo baby, Odessa A’Zion, is also a stand-out performance as Marty’s childhood best friend and partner-in-crime.
Heading into “Marty Supreme,” I hadn’t expected for the film to be earnest. Thrilling, yes, funny, sure. But earnest hadn’t crossed my mind, at least not with Timothée Chalamet’s frat-boy buzz cut for its monumental press tour. Yet “Marty Supreme,” at its core, is a pure film about what it means to have a dream — and especially what it means when no one expects you to succeed.
Throughout the film, we see Marty fight and struggle his way towards greatness in a sport that nobody respects. Yet all the same, he’s willing to steal, scam, and hustle in exchange for what he deems is his ticket to success. He’s willing to risk his own life and safety, for less than a guarantee. Marty, the same man that bragged about being “Hitler’s worst nightmare” to a journalist at the Ritz in Paris, is willing to waver his own pride. Just for a small chance to win.
And that, truly, is an achievement in itself.
