Movie review: A24’s “Marty Supreme” is a mixed bag of humor and intensity

Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme” arrives with all the energy and confidence of an aspiring athlete – even one of the table tennis variety. 

The film is packed with vivid period detail and striking cinematography that brings 1950s New York to life. On a purely technical level, the movie succeeds. It’s visually inventive, rhythmically paced and often laugh-out-loud funny.

The plot is also engaging, moving at a fast pace to keep up momentum for over two hours. Safdie builds a world where table tennis is more than a game; instead becoming a stage for obsession, ego and ambition. Even as the story dips further and further into chaos, the narrative stays entertaining and unpredictable enough to keep audiences invested.

But as strong as the filmmaking is, the movie’s impact is limited by its abrasive lead. Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Mauser is undeniably watchable, yet consistently unlikable. His selfishness, impulsive decisions and willingness to steamroll everyone around him creates a major disconnect between Mauser and the audience.

Chalamet’s performance is committed and his intensity drives several of the film’s most engaging scenes. Still, it is difficult to root for a character who rarely shows the vulnerability or growth needed to anchor a story this ambitious. For many viewers (myself included), that emotional detachment will shape the entire experience.

The film’s tone may also catch audiences off guard. For a movie centered on table tennis, “Marty Supreme” is extraordinarily vulgar. Its R rating is well earned, with explicit sexual content, coarse language and several violent scenes that land with surprising force. From consensually dubious spanking scenes to Holocaust jokes, the film more than toes the line between bold and unsettling. The contrast between the lightness of the sport and the heaviness of the film’s content is intentionally jarring, but the shock factor can overshadow the story’s strengths.

Even so, “Marty Supreme” remains a compelling watch. Safdie’s direction is inventive, the pacing is tight and the supporting cast (including Gwenyth Paltrow and Tyler, The Creator) bring welcome depth to the film’s darker impulses. 

The result is a movie that is engaging and frequently funny – but also brash and not particularly easy to love.

Whether viewers leave impressed or unsettled will depend on their tolerance for its unlikable hero and its unexpectedly graphic approach. For all its craft and confidence, “Marty Supreme” is the kind of film that invites debate and, for some, a fair amount of discomfort.

If nothing else, it proves that a table tennis movie can surprise you – for better and for worse.

“Marty Supreme” is set for a public release on Dec. 25, with specific times varying by theatre. If you are interested in attending a showing, consider taking advantage of discounted AMC tickets, available for reservation through the Center for Leadership and Engagement here at Simmons.