When we are born, we are clueless about the journey ahead. What we seek as humans, even from a young age, is a purpose. We are told to pursue a path we are passionate about, but no one warns us how challenging it may be.
Whether it’s struggling through medical school or struggling to write words on a page, everyone has their own Everest to overcome, not only to prove to others who may doubt them, but to prove to oneself that it is possible to achieve that goal.
We believe we have to be great at any given dream or else we’re failures. But what we don’t realize is that life comes with many failures; it’s more important how we overcome them to achieve new goals.
In a year notable directors have demonstrated why they’re so highly regarded (Paul Thomas Anderson, Chloe Zhao and Ryan Coogler), Josh Safdie debuts his solo directorial feature Marty Supreme.
This year, his brother, Benny Safdie, went solo with the biopic, The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson. The Safdies built a reputation with the high-octane chaos of Good Time and Uncut Gems, along with undeniably strong performances from their leads.
Josh Safdie carries that same kinetic, pulse-pounding drive from those films in Marty Supreme. Safdie explores the world of Marty Mauser with his distinctive visual style, including constant motion, fast-paced action and tight close-ups of his characters, making the stakes more effective.
This film has Safdie firing on all cylinders and pouring his soul into his work. The atmosphere surrounding Marty is chaotic and fun, almost like an intoxicating bubble of Mauser elevated by Daniel Lopatin’s (Oneohtrix Point Never) eclectic score.
In a little shoe shop around 1950s New York City, Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet) is a shoe salesman who dreams of becoming the USA’s top table tennis player in the league. Mauser has a smart mouth and believes he can talk his way into getting exactly what he wants. Chalamet excels as Mauser with confidence and resilience as he portrays a young man who truly believes he is destined for greatness.
What Josh Safdie accurately depicts is the constant hurdles when chasing your dreams. The events in Marty Supreme can be interpreted as repetitive. Although it may seem that way, those moments continually propel Marty Mauser’s character development and the narrative.
Mauser, being twenty-three, strives for a life of luxury and riches. But he doesn’t realize the effort it takes. It may not even be knowing the right people, which Safdie showcases with his brilliant supporting cast. Chalamet had excellent chemistry with everyone, including his two love interests, Odessa A’zion and Gwenyth Paltrow.
The relationships presented in the film contrast his two paths. He can foresee the mundanity of life with his long-time friend Rachel (A’zion) and constantly refuses her. Even though they are intimate with one another, he does not want to diminish his talents by staying stagnant in a small New York City shop. Odessa A’zion is incredible alongside Chalamet and matched his frenetic energy throughout.
On the contrary, when Marty sees the Hollywood movie star Kay Stone (Paltrow) during an interview, his opportunistic mind spots an opening into the glamorous lifestyle he desperately desires. It was nice to see Paltrow back in a drama that gave her the space to perform again as a multifaceted actress. Regardless of her supporting role, it’s evident that Paltrow will forever have that star presence on screen.
All Marty needs are some funds to fly to the Japan Championships for a rematch against his nemesis, Koto Endo (Koto Kawaguchi), who embarrassed him in London. Every obstacle he faces, there’s a glimmer of hope, which makes the small setbacks more impactful.
With each new idea comes a series of unfortunate events that leave Marty in despair. At one point, his arrogance gets the best of him, and out of pure desperation, he combs through his arsenal of cons to prove to himself he still holds some power in his narrative.
Safdie flips everything on its head as Marty realizes how everything will work against him. It’s not as easy as he would have hoped, but having one last chance for the validation that he is the greatest among his peers is the most important thing he can take in the end.
This marks Chalamet’s most daring and monumental performance because of the effortlessness of this character. Without question, there’s most definitely an underlying current of Chalamet’s resilience in becoming one of the greats, motivating his dedication to Mauser’s portrayal. There’s an earnestness in his defeat that is endearing, which will resonate with audiences.
Safdie crafted something so personal with Mauser because audiences will see themselves in him. They will see the hard work and determination, but also the humility in restructuring one’s approach to a goal yet to be achieved.
The ending of Marty Supreme hits like a punch to the gut and carries the emotional depth that enhances Marty’s growth and complexity. Chalamet’s final scene is so beautifully performed and reinforces the theme of seeking purpose with a fresh perspective and wholehearted effort repeatedly.
Rating: ★★★★★
Review by: Amanda Guarragi