Marty Supreme

While the performances are certainly good, and the frenetic and energetic cinematography and spirit of the film is nice, the story itself feels lacking. A young man pursues his dream of becoming a table-tennis champion, and along the way there are challenges. That's pretty much it. Nothing groundbreaking. It's basically a common sports film we've all seen for the umpteenth time made to soothe the masses. Throughout the runtime, I remember thinking that it's both too long and contains things that work. Quite a few times I wondered when the film would conclude.

The film should've been tabled (tennis) for editing. The acting across the board is good and charming, with Chalamet doing all he could here, and Paltrow giving a subtle, winsome turn as a glamorous movie star. But the film does ultimately feel overlong, melodramatic, and quite formulaic. And that's due to the undercooked script. It's just another underdog-aspiring-to-be-a-champion film that just doesn't quite stick its landing. It doesn't feel as inspiring as it aims to be. The action scenes often feel unearned and like they were added in solely for shock value rather than feeling organic. And the subject matter, table-tennis, is not in itself all that compelling. While yes, the way the sport scenes are filmed is engaging and dynamic, and it's in these scenes where the cinematography shines, ultimately you're kind of just watching a guy hit a ball back and forth across tables. The main character is ornery and isn't really likeable and is rather immature for much of the film, which can be hard to watch. There is a silly scene involving a paddle and a butt that felt really contrived, anachronistic, and out of place.

When the film ended, I remembered thinking, is that it? And, I don't want to spoil things, but when you see the ending you'll understand: it sort of misses the mark. It's all just so predictable. Bigger swings, pun intended, could've been taken here to make the film less generic.

I did enjoy that the film felt sort of deliberate at times. A number of characters are played by actors who themselves are in a way, the characters they play. For instance, you have O'Leary, a real-life businessman, portraying a businessman; and Kawaguchi, a real-life table-tennis player, portraying a table-tennis player. This choice brought the film a kind of verisimilitude that was an interesting choice. Further, it isn't afraid to poke fun at American entitlement, stereotypical Jewish avarice and miserliness, and the gritty reality of how the American Dream isn't necessarily all it's cracked up to be. There are some touching and funny moments sprinkled throughout the film. And the music and cinematography are nice.

Overall, the film is just alright to maybe slightly above average. Charming performances, nice visuals, and some interesting commentary carry the film.

I tried to like it I really did but maybe it's not for me. I don't believe Timothy in this role. He's getting a lot of roles that don't fit him I think shines when we see him less if this was a model contest I guess he would win but I'm looking forward to the wave of new actors and all I can see if Timothy getting all the roles. The movie is good if you take Timothy out of it and I'm just being honest I don't believe the kid when he acts it's not just about being good looking. All the other actors did great and that's what holds the movie together.

Films about underdogs who eagerly aspire to be champions are among the biggest crowd-pleasers in today's movie industry. There's something about watching a story in which an indisputable hopeful does whatever it takes to come out on top (even if that sometimes calls for occasionally bending, or even breaking, the rules), prompting viewers to pull for the would-be victor in the face of such hardships. However, there comes a point where the contender's actions might be called into question, either by going too far or by exhibiting a degree of confidence that verges on arrogance or conceit. Does someone like that still make for a suitable role model? Is that kind of "inspiration" something to be emulated? Or does this represent the rise of a bona fide bad boy? Those are the questions raised in this solo project from writer-director Josh Safdie, one-half of the Safdie Brothers moviemaking duo. Loosely based on the life of colorful American table tennis star Marty Reisman, who rose to prominence in the sport in the 1950s, the film tells the story of Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), a character patterned after his real life counterpart. At a time when table tennis is largely looked on in the US as a home-based pastime -- very much in contrast to its immense popularity as a competitive, legitimate sport in Asia and elsewhere -- Mauser aspires to be a world champion, a goal aimed at making "ping pong" something taken more seriously stateside. However, given the sport's lightweight reputation in America at the time, he has trouble securing financial backing for his efforts, leading him to engage in an array of questionable funding arrangements. What's more, he doesn't help his own case much, either, frequently alienating officials in the sport, as well as potentially influential backers, such as a wealthy pen manufacturer (Kevin O'Leary), partly by his behavior and otherwise with his smug, sarcastic attitude and ample capacity as a pathological liar. Mauser also makes some dubious personal choices, such as having an affair with a Hollywood actress seeking to resuscitate her flailing career (Gwyneth Paltrow) (who, by the way, just happens to be his would-be sponsor's trophy wife) at the same time that he has unwittingly fathered a child with a lifelong friend (Odessa A'zion) who's married to a hothead abusive husband (Emory Cohen). And that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg of his bad behavior. Mauser is, in no uncertain terms, a hustler of the first order who doesn't always think through his schemes before acting on them. To be sure, Mauser's story is a genuinely entertaining (albeit somewhat overlong) tale, full of laughs, great sports action sequences and one of the most impressive (i.e., not annoying) performances by Chalamet. Despite those strengths, though, is the protagonist someone that parents would want their children to look up to? Personally, I find that a rather questionable choice for the subject of a big screen film. While the protagonist's objective is a noble one, the story told here is also a potent cautionary tale, one that raises many questions about the ends justifying the means. In light of that, then, "Marty Supreme" is one of those releases that must be taken with a full shaker of salt while assessing its content. It might well amuse, but it should also give viewers pause to reflect on the kinds of individuals we admire as heroes, especially where the impressionable among us are concerned. Indeed, watch wisely.

It's the same beat over and over pounded onto the screen. Chalamet is amazing as always, but this character is so unlikable and mean spirited. I didn't find it enjoyable to watch someone walk all over other people for his own gain. The final scenes felt contrived and seemed to ask the audience to forgive too much.

I was exhausted by the end.

Like Marty, the film that bears his name has no heart. It's all plot, no story. A runaway Rube Goldberg machine that keeps the character conning and the camera charging through relationships, conventions, and common sense, only to leave the audience behind to sift through the debris for the film's emotional point or purpose.

Safdie's talent and style is evident throughout. He's a good, highly kinetic director. And Chalamet has probably never been better. He's an actor who shows no fear and here he embraces Marty's shamelessness and cruelty with glee.

Unfortunately, it's all in service to an overstuffed and overlong shaggy dog story (with an actual shaggy dog) that rinses and repeats Marty's callousness in incident after incident that batters, and frankly, bores. The character never stops moving or talking, but ends up standing still. His ping-pong shots have an arc, but he doesn't. And the completely unearned finale, despite what the writers might believe, doesn't lend him one.

This is Catch Me If You Can without the joie de vivre. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner without the rebellion. It glitters and shines and catches the eye, but it's not another uncut gem. It's costume jewelry.