Marty Supreme is a nice sports-drama. It has enough going on to keep you hooked. You get to see a part of Marty’s life and his struggles to become the world champion; you see the ups, downs and all the drama unfolding against the backdrop of table tennis. There is so much happening one after the other that it doesn’t allow you to be emotionally invested. The emotions are seen but not felt enough. You are witnessing the events at the same time not feeling a part of it. Although it helps to maintain the pace of the film. I liked the pace. The quick unfolding of events and the variety of emotions makes the experience thrilling. You don’t feel settled; experiencing the chaos in Marty’s life first-hand. You also don’t know what to expect next. There are enough twists and turns to keep you engaged. The comedy makes the film enjoyable. You explore the story from the perspective of the protagonist (Marty). The conflicts, the struggles and the character of the protagonist are relatable. It is going to resonate with the gen-z. Although the film is set in the 1950s. I liked the transformation of the protagonist towards the end which provides a nice closure to the narrative. That is the point where the protagonist actually touches your heart. The characters and the dialogues are well written.
Making a film on a sport like table tennis is a unique idea in itself since there are not many films made. At least for me, I was watching a film on the sport for the first time. So, I felt they should’ve shown more of the sport in detail throughout. Especially, for someone like me who doesn’t know much about the sport, the rules and the points system. It is only during the match in the climax that I got a hang of the sport. The match in the climax has been shown really well where you actually experience the thrill of the sport. I feel before that, they intended to show more of the character (Marty) and his journey through the sport rather than the sport itself. You can see the difference in the time and the pacing of the other matches v/s the match in the climax. The other matches feel like a build up towards the big match in the climax.
The writing is good. The emotions are effectively conveyed. The direction is brilliant. The visual storytelling is interesting. The production design is the highlight. It actually transports you to the 1950s. The VFX is invisible which is a sign of some superior quality VFX work. The background music and sound design is another notable aspect of the film. Both are phenomenal. The background music actually adds a different layer to the storytelling. Subconsciously it plays a very big role in keeping the narrative pacy and engaging. The sound design is effectively used as a transition in the edit pattern. The cinematography and the editing is fabulous. The performances are good. Timothée Chalamet has done well. The film belongs to him. He portrays the transformation of the character convincingly. He makes you root for his character. Odessa A’zion is impressive. She portrays the emotions and the various shades of her character well. Tyler Okonma is fun to watch. His camaraderie with Marty is enjoyable.
Marty Supreme has received nine Oscar nominations that include, Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design and Best Casting. If the cinephile in you wants to watch an Oscar nominated film then this one’s for you.
