Anchored by Timothée Chalamet's best performance yet, Marty Supreme is one of the year's best films. It's exhilarating from start to finish.
Marty Mauser has a lot in common with past Safdie protagonists like Howard (Uncut Gems) and Connie (Good Time). Namely, a self-destructive quality that has kept him barely skating past the outcome of his actions. And like them, he'll soon have a harsh meeting with reality.
But for someone as young, talented, and charming as Marty, consequences are tomorrow's problem. Today, he needs money for his ticket to England. If that means resorting to armed robbery, so be it. Today, he needs to pay an overdue bill. If that means hustling some violent guys from New Jersey, so be it. Today, he needs to catch the eye of a glamorous but faded movie star (Gwyneth Paltrow). If that means incurring the wrath of her millionaire husband (Kevin O'Leary), so be it.
Marty's reckless impulsivity provides the film an electric charge that carries through, even as his world comes crashing down. He's an endlessly fascinating character, constantly evaluating every interaction to see how he can come out ahead. He is not a man who believes in equal partnership in any scenario. He's either coming out ahead, or he's going to adjust on the fly to come out ahead later. While having sex, his mind is on stealing a necklace. During a business meeting, he's searching for a way to break the terms of an agreement and still get paid. And any small favor he's asked someone will quickly balloon to a risky proposition.
While Marty is the center of this universe, the entire cast – everyone from an Oscar winning actress to a legendary indie director to former NBA players – is extraordinary. People I had never seen in a movie before, like Luke Manley (as Marty's long-suffering friend Dion) and Pico Iyer (as the condescending head of the table tennis authority) are perfect in their small roles.
But the real revelation of the film is Odessa A'Zion. Previously best known for horror movies, she's truly impressive as Rachel, Marty's longtime friend and on-again, off-again lover. Like Marty, she has big dreams and a cunningly ruthless pursuit of those dreams. When she willingly puts herself in his orbit after months apart, they supercharge each other's worst tendencies.
Marty Supreme is a slick progression of the Safdies' style, while losing none of the basics that made their past films so compelling. Whether you were a fan of those or not, you can't help but get sucked into this perfectly realized world.
