Marty Supreme, Perfectly Served

Don’t blink or you might miss Marty Supreme, a comet streak among this year’s film releases. Timothée Chalamet delivers a career-defining performance as Marty, a promising table tennis player determined to win the international championship. One gets the sense Chalamet deeply understands Marty; they mirror each other in their desire to become “one of the greats.” The film may thrill with its impressive table tennis sequences, which Chalamet spent seven years training for, but you stay to witness people fighting for their American dream. Tasteful shots, such as one in which Marty observes a table tennis match before the camera slowly zooms out to reveal a sea of people engrossed in their own matches, capture people being messy, obsessive, and practically rabid. In Josh Safdie’s world, colors are a real treat, from burnt oranges to pine greens, and the dress code is retro chicness. Odessa A’zion’s portrayal of Rachel, Marty’s childhood friend, is a lightning strike. Other perfect casting includes Gwyneth Paltrow as Kay, a retired Hollywood actress, and Kevin O’Leary as Milton, her wealthy businessman husband. And how does Safdie make crude jokes so charming? If Marty Supreme is indicative of the direction cinema is hurtling towards, I’m ready to be served.