Marty Supreme (2025)

Marty Supreme (2025)

A young man’s ruthless pursuit of his dreams.

Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars

Plot: Marty Mauser pursues his dream of becoming a champion table-tennis player in the 1950s.

Analysis: Yes, this movie is about ping-pong. But it’s about so much more than ping-pong too. It’s really a character study of Marty, who is so deeply passionate and determined that he will let nothing stand in the way of his dreams. You can feel his desperation oozing from the screen, which means he is willing to lie, steal, cheat, and use those closest to him. Marty is not a good person, yet part of you wants him to succeed simply because he wants it so badly.

The 1950s setting means that post World War II tensions are still high internationally, especially with Japan. An American victory in table tennis over a Japanese player and vice versa has meaning beyond the sport. Using a high-powered 1980s soundtrack is a unique choice that adds to the sports focused intensity of the film.

Timothée Chalamet is fantastic in this role. I was captivated from start to finish and he was so deeply in his character. This movie is a bit different and maybe not for everyone, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.