UPDATE: It’s all-out raves: 88 on Metacritic and 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The review embargo has lifted, and I can now confidently say that Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme” is one of the best films I’ve seen this year — certainly up there with the most ambitious. It has everything you could want in a movie. It’s an original celebration of the American drive for greatness—and the first true ping pong epic.
Set in 1950s New York City, Timothée Chalamet deserves an Oscar for his portrayal of Marty Mauser, a 23-year-old shoe store salesman desperate for money to fund his trip to Europe for the table tennis championships—and willing to do whatever it takes to get there.
The film is bookended by the most thrilling ping pong matches ever captured on screen — Chalamet trained for nearly four years to get the table tennis chops he displays here. Props to Darius Khondji, a master DP, who infuses the film via moody, atmospheric cinematography with rich textures, and grainy realism.
In between, Safdie channels full “Uncut Gems” energy, chronicling the chaotic adventures Marty faces on his quest for funding and glory. One scheme after another spirals into tense, comedic, and occasionally perilous situations, threatening Marty’s life—and those around him—yet he somehow always finds a way out of the mayhem he causes. At times, the chaos can feel overwhelming, but the sheer ambition and audacity Safdie displays is exhilarating to watch.
The supporting cast is wonderfully eccentric. A parade of memorable characters comes and goes, including Gwyneth Paltrow as a married actress seduced by Marty, and her ultra-wealthy husband, perfectly played by Kevin O’Leary, whowho controls the funding for Marty’s quest to compete in the European championships. Odessa A’zion delivers a breakthrough performance as Marty’s pregnant girlfriend. All three deserve Oscar nominations — yes, even O’Leary.
If I had any doubts about Chalamet, he’s swept them away. The kid us mesmerizing, transforming a brash, irritating punk into someone you can’t help but root for. It’s the best performance of his career. His character’s relentless and obsessive drive for greatness is infectious, and watching him navigate every obstacle the film throws at him is utterly compelling.
Watching this film, it becomes clear who was the driving force behind the Safdies’ unique vision, which has resulted in films like “Heaven Knows What,” “Good Time,” and “Uncut Gems”—it was Josh. The gutter poetry style he brought to those films is on full display here, but executed in a more commercial fashion. Unlike those other films, “Marty Supreme” plays like a total crowd-pleaser.