I love me some sports, but my knowledge of ping pong is limited, so this film was a bit of a crash course.
Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), is a shoe salesman in New York City, and also one of the top ranked table tennis players in the world. Set in the 1950s, the film takes place largely between two ping pong world tournaments held in France and then Japan.
Throughout the film, the audience sees Marty train to compete against other top players from around the world, while also scrounging for money to pay his way into the sport and having relationships with a pair of women.
Director Josh Safdie, who helmed 2019’s “Uncut Gems,” is back with another flick that goes a mile-a-minute. Right from the jump, the movie is chaotic and fast-paced, matching the energy of its titular character. Marty is an intense guy. He’s someone who’s confident, cocky and pursues greatness by plowing forward.
It’s certainly a film that never lets an audience feel like there’s nothing happening. Marty is constantly playing table tennis, or hustling his way into another match to keep his career going. It’s sort of a ‘flying to close to the sun’ type story rolling out, and there’s even a meta element to the protagonist’s path, with Chalamet himself gunning for acting greatness.
The problem is this is the type of movie where it feels like some breathing room would be warranted. In “Uncut Gems,” the rapid pace worked to what the movie was showing, a downward spiral of a man getting in too deep because of his gambling addiction. It was effective in a domino-effect like way.
With “Marty Supreme,” meanwhile, the constant succession of events can feel exhausting at points. Exploration of the humanity with the character, an athlete driven by a real passion, sometimes gets sidelined for shenanigans he gets into. It makes one wish for something more like what was seen with “Inside Llewyn Davis.”
That film also had a main character on a similar path as Marty, but it offered more moments of reflection and introspection, even with a character that was likewise cocky. It feels like “Marty Supreme” could have used a bit more of this, rather than some rapid, frenetic scenes that feel unnecessary.
That’s not to say the movie is without good moments. In fact, there are plenty of good ones from start to finish. The snappiness of what’s unfolding in some scenes, combined with Chalamet’s acting prowess, power some captivating scenes. Chalamet is definitely on point, too, the confidence and want the character has is palpable.
Safdie and his crew also crafted a technically sound feature. The set and costume design is well done, looking good for a period piece, and the camerawork matches the intense energy. This is especially true with the ping pong sequences, most notably in the final act during the last game played.
“Marty Supreme” also boasts a solid supporting cast, with Gwyneth Paltro in particular giving a strong performance. Though when it comes to characters, it would have been nice to learn more about Marty’s main rival in the film. Overall, this one does mostly work, though it comes with some hinderances. 3.75 out of 5.
Matthew Liedke on Film 