Marty Supreme – An Underdog Story Like We’ve Never Seen Before. 

By : Dominic La-Viola

When talking about the best films of the year, Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme” easily comes to mind. Now, while there are some films that were “released” this year that have yet to come to theaters.  This is without question one of the best films that have. 

How does one make a movie about ping pong, table tennis? Easily one of the most boring and one of the most unauthentic “sports” to ever exist, interesting ? 

You make the main character someone who everyone can’t get enough of. You build your entire film around that character and their journey. For it’s not about table tennis; it’s about a person’s journey into becoming the best there is at something they’re passionate about. 

I feel the need to address the elephant in the room, or should I say the film: Timothée Chalamet. Everyone has been talking negatively about him. Saying that one can’t be the GOAT if they say they are. That’s not how that works. Then go to compare him to Denzel and DiCaprio . 

To which I want to start off by saying that his performance is without question the definitive reason that this film works so well and is as masterful as it is. 

When you have a character-driven film such as this, if your lead character, or in this case, your lead actor, is anything less than flawless. It’s’ going to sink the film. 

Chalamet not only elevates the film. He carries it. There are many great performances in this film, including Odessa A’Zion, who plays the love interest, Rachel. Another fantastic performance that is in need of recognition. For there are some scenes in which she really steals the film and flexes her strengths as an actor, but also shows reinforced what we already knew. This is a character-driven film. 

With that being said, there is so much more to making a film of this magnitude than simply having a great script and a leading man who can carry the film home. 

One needs to have a director with a vision and a DP who can bring that vision to the screen. Executing the singular vision to the silver screen, which is done here flawlessly. 

The pacing of the film is damn near perfect; there is not a single moment where the story lags or the tempo changes. The consistency and intensity that the film manages to maintain throughout is astonishing. Bringing a level of intensity and depth to such a simple concept of table tennis. 

The lengths in which Marty goes through to fulfill his destiny, to see his dreams become his reality, is what makes this film work. At its core, it’s the story of an underdog, trying to make his way to the top. An underdog story like we’ve never seen before. A character whose drive is something to aspire to. Not because they’re a good person or they do what is morally right. But because they have this selfishness that accompanies greatness. 

Overall, this is one of the best pictures of the year. Josh Safdie creates a world in which table tennis is not only interesting, it’s liberating. Watching someone free themselves from the pressure of the world to achieve greatness is inspiring, yet grounded with this unsettling feeling of despair.  Showing that dreams indeed come true, but never free. 

Even the scenes in which we are watching people play ping pong are so well executed; the choreography is astonishing and breathtaking. Which is never how I would ever imagine describing watching two men play ping pong. The level in which the action is executed is an achievement within itself.

The story is bold, compelling, and just dark enough to make it feel real and gritty. Raising the stakes on what most would consider nothing more than a recreational hobby for kids. 

This is without question Timothée Chalamet’s best performance yet, alongside Josh Safdie’s best directing effort to date. 

Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars.