From rapping to ping-pong to acting, Timothée Chalamet does it all. “Marty Supreme” is a fictional story about a go-getter who wants to make it in life as a professional ping-pong player, but is rooted in the life of real table tennis legend Marty Reisman. Online hype shrouded the release of the Josh Safdie-directed film, with many viral memes about the movie being spearheaded by the actor and his team. Some of these memes included a supposedly “leaked” Zoom call between Chalamet and his marketing team, where he pitched absurd ideas such as a Marty Supreme blimp, and a myth being spread theorizing that Chalamet was EsDeeKid, a widely popular anonymous rapper from Liverpool, England. This idea became so widely popular that Chalamet was featured on an EsDeeKid song where he promoted the movie. 

The cast further pushed the public’s anticipation for the movie, including renowned artist Tyler the Creator, “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’leary and cameos of NBA players Isiah Thomas and George Gervin. With high expectations coming into the movie, many were left bewildered as they left the theaters. 

Despite the movie being supposedly centered around ping-pong, it seemed less about the sport and more about following the life of a hustler. The movie explored the dangers and the real grit it takes to chase one’s dreams, which is inspiring but also serves as a cautionary tale to show the amount of sacrifice it takes.

Chalamet’s superb acting and well-written character exemplify this idea, winning him his first Golden Globe for the role. The amount of emotion poured into scenes makes the viewer truly resonate with the character’s hardships and obsession with success. Marty Mauser, the main protagonist who is played by Chalamet, is portrayed as a very arrogant, flamboyant and stubborn character through his interactions with other characters, which drives the plot of the movie. 

This well-written notion cannot be extended to the rest of the story, with the plot being very random at times. Arbitrary references or unrelated scenes occur frequently in the movie, such as the honey scene, seemingly in an attempt to add more depth and meaning. The opposite of this is achieved, as these scenes detract from the overall meaning of the movie and make it feel more like a comedy.

On a positive note, the cinematography was amazing and effective. With the setting being in the 1950s, the shots, sets and grainy footage work cohesively to make the viewer feel like the film was actually shot in the last millennium. 

The biggest takeaway from the movie is definitely the intense ping-pong scenes. The choreography in the matches provides a highly accurate display of professional ping-pong even though the balls are CGI. This, along with the acting of the characters, makes the viewer feel as if they were in the stands themself watching the match. Chalamet himself trained for six years under a ping-pong coach for the role which only added to the realism. 

Another subtle but noticeable addition in the movie is how the context of the 1950s was integrated into the story. Timely issues such as the aftermath of World War II and its complications on society, along with the Japanese travel ba,n were acknowledged, highlighting the amount of thought put into the script. 

In essence, the movie is not what was expected, but provides an inspiring story, phenomenal cinematography and a fun cast with familiar faces. If you aren’t too fond of honey and can get past questionable scenes, “Marty Supreme” is definitely worth a watch.