“The truth is, I am in pursuit of greatness,” said actor Timothée Chalamet a few months ago, when accepting an award for his role in A Complete Unknown. “I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats.” That pursuit of greatness is one of the central themes in his new movie, Marty Supreme. Marty Supreme is director Josh Safdie’s first solo project and boasts an eclectic cast featuring Timothée Chalamet as the lead character, Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow, Grammy-winning rapper Tyler, The Creator, TV personality and businessman Kevin O’Leary, and up and coming actress Odessa A’Zion. The movie takes place in 1950s New York City, and follows our protagonist Marty Mouser as he chases his dream of going to Japan to become a famous table tennis player. His biggest charm, and flaw, is that he will stop at nothing to achieve that dream.
From the beginning of Marty Supreme, the main idea is very clear: failure is not an option. During his journey, Marty is faced with numerous obstacles which he must overcome to succeed. The movie follows a classic trope — that of the American underdog, someone you just can’t help but root for. Even though Marty is an extreme narcissist, his determination and sheer hope make you wish he succeeds. However, his story is more of a cautionary tale. Marty only has one dream and does everything he can to achieve this. His journey only exemplifies his negative traits and makes him a worse person. Pushing through his unlikeable qualities, his story is still inspiring but should not be looked at from a single perspective.
Nearly everything about the movie is great, from the score, to the acting, to the costumes, and the makeup; but what stood out most to me was its incorporation of humor. The movie perfectly blends sports drama with dark humor. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it’s important you don’t take it too seriously either when watching, or else it’ll just feel too outlandish and crazy. The film is also visually stunning and was shot on film, giving it a more gritty and vintage feel that further incorporates the audience into the world. Additionally, the movie uses a lot of personal close-up shots to show off the raw emotion of the characters.
Even though Marty Supreme has a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film still garnered many negative reviews. Some such reviewers felt that Marty Mouser was too flat a character, and too self-absorbed to the point where viewers can’t care about him and his dreams. However, that’s the point. Marty Mouser is an unlikable character who does not have many redeeming qualities. He’s filled with so much ambition that, even when you root for him, the movie pushes back at you with every turn and makes you question if you should actually be rooting for him.
Overall, Marty Supreme is a great film that makes the audience ponder the relationship between ambition and success and the dangers of unchecked determination. It is a rollercoaster of a movie that is certainly worth your time.
