A24’s electrifying sports-drama Marty Supreme hit theaters this Christmas, delivering grit and action with a side of table tennis.
“The beginning intro really stood out to me; I didn’t know where it was going,” said senior Ethan Muskoski. “Then it transitioned surprisingly into a ping pong ball, and I understood.”
The premise of the film follows a young Marty Mouser, played by Chalamet and loosely based on the real player Marty Reisman, as he attempts to navigate not just his reputation in the sport, but run-ins with the law, while growing into a sense of responsibility. Though the movie begins with his regular life working at his uncle’s shoe store, it quickly picks up pace once he reaches his first competition, tumbling down the consequences of his countless risky decisions.
“The casting did very well and that all the characters fit into the plot especially with the Marty and Rachel dynamic,” said Muskoski. “They fit well and made their emotions pretty top notch.”
Chalamet shines with co-star Tyler Okonma, better known as Tyler, The Creator, playing Wally, a sneaky yet loyal friend, and Odessa A’zion, who plays Rachel, his childhood friend and love interest. The performances delivered throughout the film are raw and real, reflecting the trends and mannerisms of the time period the movie is set in: the early 50s. Shot on 35mm film, the production was set on immersing viewers into the period, picking outfits, hair, and dialogue specifically for the time.
“I thought the casting was really good,” said senior Genadya Shany. “Every person embodied their character well.”
By drawing the film as a character study, the promotion emphasized the lead actor, Timothee Chalamet. From this, they targeted an audience of cinema enthusiasts and young adults through teasers focused on artistic intent and tension. The Safdie brothers, the directors, wanted to focus the promotion of the movie on their return to directing and an amplification of curiosity. Primarily publicized through online film communities and film festivals like Cannes, the film brewed anticipation by fans before release.
“Upon seeing the publicity online, I was really excited for the movie to come out,” said senior Aiden Lopez. “I did not exactly know what the movie was going to be about at first besides ping-pong, but knowing the style of A24, I was excited.”
The A24 film received polarized feedback as its sound design and provocative, open-ended dialogue either peaked the audience’s interest or confused them. Watchers had mixed feelings, yet there seemed to be an agreement that the film was powerful and engaging all the way through.
“I feel like the message it conveyed was a good one in learning how chasing the dreams and goals of an ideal success can change you and those around you for good or bad” said Musoski.
Many believe the film should not just be depicted as a story of a self-adoring antihero, but an immersive film that covers topics beyond its vibrant color scheme. It’s an intentionally elliptical, artistic film which focuses on a bigger picture, the cost of ambition and the pursuit of one’s success.
“I thought the movie was really good and kept my attention the whole time,” said Shany. “I would rate it a 8/10.”
