Courtesy of A24

Despite being marketed as a ping-pong based, run-of-the-mill, “reach for the stars and fulfill your dreams” sports drama, “Marty Supreme” took audiences by surprise on Christmas Day when it turned out to be anything but,taking a more grounded yet exciting approach to a man’s obsessive dream. 

Directed by Josh Safdie in his solo directorial debut, after his split from his brother Benny (who directed this year’s “The Smashing Machine”), the film and its thrilling narrative structure were no surprise to those already familiar with the Safdies. 

The film can be seen as a spiritual successor to the Safdie Brothers’ previous films, “Good Time” (2017) and “Uncut Gems” (2019). It follows the chaotic, sporadic, adrenaline-filled yet wildly entertaining downfall of a manic, morally-questionable protagonist, whose only goal is to help himself. “Marty Supreme” can be seen as Safdie’s magnum opus, following the ambitious dreams of a hustling ping-pong player who will stop at nothing to accomplish his obsessive goal of becoming a world famous table-tennis champion.

The film is loosely based on the real-life story of Marty Reisman, a late 1950s table-tennis champion. Safdie, who received a copy of Resiman’s autobiography as a gift from his wife, used the book as an inspiration, though it is important to note that the film is not a traditional biopic. Aside from the main character’s name, passion, and the use of the 1950s as a backdrop, “Marty Supreme” is an otherwise complete work of fiction.

Timothée Chalamet portrays Marty Mauser. Through his performance as the titular character, Chalamet delivers what might be his best performance, alongside his work in “Beautiful Boy” (2018). His extraordinary portrayal of the sneaky and conniving Marty Mauser is what pulls the entirety of “Marty Supreme” together. Throughout its many narrative twists and turns, the film does not work without this masterclass of a performance that will surely earn Chalamet his third Academy Award nomination. 

However, the film and its chaotic energy does not work without Chalamet’s supporting ensemble cast. Odessa A’Zion plays Rachel Mizler, one of Chalamet’s love interests and sidekick, a very complex character who makes catastrophic decisions that are just as integral to the plot as Mauser’s, especially in the film’s climax. Grammy Award-winner Tyler, the Creator (Tyler Okonma) plays Wally, one of Mauser’s friends. Despite being depicted as a lead in the trailers, Okonma actually has a relatively minor role in the film. Regardless, he is fun to watch and delivers a fantastic film debut performance — his character crucial to the film’s shocking progression. 

Gwyneth Paltrow’s portrayal of Kay Stone, a retired movie star from the 1930s and another one of Mauser’s romantic interests, is one more of the film’s notable highlights. She successfully captures the radiant energy of an Old Hollywood movie star, putting on a charming and breathtaking performance that reminds the audience of why we so needed Paltrow back in the (non-Marvel) movies after her own break from acting in 2019. 

While “Marty Supreme” is full of shockingly great performances by numerous celebrities, the most random, yet astounding (in fashion with the film’s energy) is that of businessman and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary, who plays antagonistic Milton Rockwell. O’Leary portrays Paltrow’s husband in the film, and a sort of nemesis to Marty. While O’Leary plays an imposing millionaire that may seem similar to his real-life self, for his feature film debut, he creates an incredibly intimidating villain. 

As previously mentioned, “Marty Supreme” is not a success story; instead, it is simply about the pursuit of greatness and the gritty and unflinching exploration of obsession it takes to get there. We see Mauser go through complete and utter chaos for nearly two hours after the film’s slow, albeit much needed, prologue. Yet after it all, Mauser still wants to follow this dream of his that nobody (not even his mother, played by Fran Drescher in a glorified cameo role) respects or encourages. We see how much this dream haunts him, and how he’s willing to scheme to obtain the money that he needs to fulfill it, even if it means hurting those he seemingly cares about. 

Through this aforementioned exploration of the cunning Marty Mauser and the film’s superb pacing, Safdie creates an anxiety-driven take on 1950s New York through his signature direction that is constantly throwing twists at the audience to keep them on their toes. This film is constructed through numerous subplots that don’t have much connection to one another, each one reflecting a horrible decision made by Mauser that leads into the next. 

If you aren’t a fan of Safdie’s previous works, or his style of storytelling, or protagonists that commit heinous acts and are motivated solely by their own self gain, then “Marty Supreme” is likely not for you. It is not a story that should be reflective of your morals, nor should it be to function as amusement; instead, it’s entertaining, and also quite thought-provoking from a step back. 

The film is a chaotic blast from beginning to end. “Marty Supreme” is a fun, thrilling and nerve-wrecking time that makes for an incredible cinematic experience. 

Rating: 10/10

A version of this article appeared on p. 13 of the Jan. 15 print edition of the Daily Nexus.