Still in the relatively early days of their filmmaking career with acclaimed indies such as Good Time and Uncut Gems to their names, it was a surprise when the Safdies announced they would go their separate creative ways. While younger sibling Benny took quite a departure in form with his biographical sports movie The Smashing Machine, elder brother Josh has played the hits to a degree with his own solo directorial debut. A biographical sports movie of sorts in itself, comedy drama Marty Supreme is set in 1950s New York City and follows the relentless efforts of shoe salesman Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet) to become a table tennis champion. As childhood friend Rachel (Odessa A’zion), businessman Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary) and actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow) become embroiled in his schemes, he risks everything he has to get anything he wants.
Surrounding himself with past collaborators like cinematographer Darius Khondji, composer Daniel Lopatin, and screenwriter Ronald Bronstein, the frenetic tone of the piece is very much aligned with the director’s scuzzy oeuvre. As cocksure Marty wheels and deals, the chaotic Scorsese-flavoured narrative is peppered with madcap scenarios that threaten his hopes, dreams, and in most cases his safety. The breakneck speed in which our narcissistic protagonist changes tact to suit himself lends the film a thrilling pace, fusing intimate city adventure with the tension building structure of the sports genre as he develops an unorthodox rivalry with deaf Japanese competitor Koto Endo, admirably portrayed by real-life player Koto Kawaguchi.
Chalamet is no stranger to depicting self-centred, often unlikeable individuals, but goes all out as Mauser to make him an electric presence on screen. Delivering dialogue at a million miles a minute to influence those around him and get himself out of trouble, he could be seen as an exhausting, obnoxious character. In many ways he is, but this central performance makes him utterly compelling from start to finish. Shark Tank television personality Kevin O’Leary features in an excellent acting debut as Milton Rockwell, a symbol of corporate, capitalist America who serves as a game antagonist. In a crowded concrete jungle of greed and power, the pivotal role of Rachel keeps the tale grounded in harsh reality – brilliantly captured by Odessa A’zion, she faces her own pressing social issues whilst her off n’ on lover Marty chases his lofty ambitions.
In his speech at last year’s SAG awards ceremony, Timothée Chalamet confessed that he is “in pursuit of greatness” and in Marty Supreme, he grasps the opportunity to ‘dream big’ through the bespectacled but tireless eyes of a charismatic chancer. While his brother switched gears, Josh Safdie doubled down on his raw and transgressive storytelling style – his masterful choice to give the 50s tale a pop-banger soundtrack from the 80s adds extra top spin to this exhilarating ping pong smash.
Cinema Perspective 