Review: Marty Supreme “Timothée Chalamet is electrifying”

Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet) is a man endowed with the unique ability to excel at table tennis. Unlike most underdog sports stories, “Marty Supreme” takes a different approach with its main character. Instead of presenting his talent in a meek and subdued manner, Marty is filled with entitlement and self-confidence, which can often come across as annoying. However, the way Chalamet portrays him makes these traits feel almost endearing and charming.

This film is about forty-five minutes too long, which is its biggest flaw. The script is filled with quick wit and an entertaining premise, but after the one-hour mark, things start to feel a little repetitive. If it weren’t for Timothée Chalamet, audiences might easily lose interest. His performance is electrifying; you can’t help but follow his every move, even when those moves are horribly wrong.

The film takes place in 1952, a time when table tennis is really starting to catch on in the U.S. While most people see it as a fun hobby, one player takes it pretty seriously: Marty. He’s in the running for the world champion title and runs into all sorts of funny situations along the way. The matches are some of the best parts of the movie, especially when Marty goes up against his old buddy, Béla Kletzki, played by Géza Röhrig. One tournament really stands out when Marty pulls out all the stops to impress the famous actress Kay Stone, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. That’s when the film really comes alive!

Marty Supreme is an intense adrenaline rush full of confidence. It’s an unexpectedly thrilling action film in certain parts, while also serving as an inspirational sports story. The plot feels as though several screenplays were combined to create one of the most oddly infuriating yet intriguing films of the year. If there is one takeaway, it’s that Chalamet delivered his best performance to date.