Marty Supreme

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⭐ 10/10

Best movie of the year alert! My mind was made up going in, but the last movie of the year ended up becoming my favourite. If you've seen Uncut Gems this is very familiar, but even more high octane. I think it slots in perfectly next to movies like There Will Be Blood or Whiplash or Tar, which focus on a single person and their relentless pursuit of a goal. Crazy enough, Marty might be the worst person out of all of those. He is conceited and inappropriate and a compulsive liar, but his level of confidence is through the roof. You immediately hate him, yet are charmed by him, and that's why I think Chalamet is giving the performance of the year here. He is earnest in real life, so this feels so lived in and believable. You can't believe how confidently he can string together lies, and then when he's playing table tennis you want him to win.

This is a long movie that leaves you breathless the entire time, flying from set piece to set piece, with some insane side quests. If I started describing everything that happens in this movie you would think it's 5 different action movies or something. Break-neck pace, and that's assisted by the best score of the year. The music in this movie is actually crazy, if you think about what you are hearing its hard to imagine it working in any other movie, truly visionary stuff by the composer. I'm pretty sure at some point there is a song comprised of frogs croaking, which I choose to believe is a nod to this.


I remember very clearly when watching Killers of the Flower Moon that this was a movie of unique faces. Every actor chosen for their distinct features, inhabiting a role that feels real without looking like pretty movie stars. This movie might best exemplify that for me now. Every face is so memorable and well chosen, with people you wouldn't expect. Gwenyth Paltrow plays a movie star, so she gets to be herself, but Kevin O'Leary as the big bad financier!? Genius! Tyler The Creator is in here, George Gervin is in here!? Just peppered with people you wouldn't expect but that makes this world feel so much realer. Shout out to Odessa A'zion, my girl Tallulah in I Love LA, who has an unforgettable face and I think some real stardom in her future.

But this is Timmy's movie, and he completely embodies Marty. Similar to the aforementioned I Love LA, he completely degrades himself for his dreams, but I am always drawn to these psychos who are driven and uncompromising. Everything serves that purpose, to be the greatest, and he has a Whiplash-esque monologue where he tells his girlfriend you aren't special I am and that's a burden I must carry since there is no other path other than me becoming the greatest. It's psychotic but also so intoxicating to me, this confidence in your own fate that I certainly don't have but assume everyone that's the best at something does.

I'll finish by saying that this movie hinges on table tennis, and has a couple incredible sports movie moments, but I would never call this a sports movie. Anxious thriller? Like Uncut Gems it feels wholly new and hard to define. I loved this movie.

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