The hottest actor these days seems to be Timothee Chalamet, and his latest film is the frenetic Marty Supreme.
The film follows swaggering, twenty-something, table-tennis hustler Marty Mauser, a prodigy from New York’s streets who is attempting to raise enough money to travel to Japan to compete in a world championship tournament.
Chalamet is at his best in a role that showcases his talent and acting range, and the plot is kinetic and fast-paced. And although the film has gotten overwhelmingly positive reviews from most critics, I’m holding back. I found Marty to be an obnoxious, insufferable protagonist who cares for no one but himself.
I wouldn’t even call him an antihero, whom I could still empathize with (example: Michael Corleone from The Godfather — ruthless and tragic but also loyal and intelligent).
Mauser will do anything to get the money he needs. He’ll seduce a wealthy woman (Gwenyth Paltrow in a solid performance), steal and try to ransom a dog, hustle other table-tennis players, and humiliate himself for personal gain. He also manages to get a married woman pregnant, and alternately shuns and loves her.
The result is I didn’t care whether Marty succeeded or failed in his quest, and a story climax that I waited impatiently to arrive, took too long to unfold, and induced in me a shoulder shrug. The film’s runtime is 2.5 hours, and despite its relentless pace, I was looking at my watch several times.
I’m in the minority. I think most people find the movie hugely entertaining due to its wild plot twists and Chalamet’s outstanding performance. Fair enough. But I’m looking for more.
