disagree with the superlatives you give Marty Supreme even as I enjoyed it (being stress-edged for over three hours lost its charm, ultimately), I will grant that it is one of the only period films I've seen in the last 10 years that feels of its time.
Agree about the stress of how chaotic and frenetic it was, endurance flirting with boredom at the too-much-ness of it. I'm aware this is not a culturally sophisticated take. Sam's review did help me to appreciate its ambition and technical achievement, but it felt self-indulgent in many places, including the overly long ping-pong scenes. And don't get me started on the treatment of the few women characters.
You seem to really be taking Marty Supreme at its word as a depiction of hustling, can-do spirit, and the attitude to win.
The whole joke is that this movie is about ping-pong. Marty himself is incredibly annoying, and while he doesn't get quite the comeuppance as the protagonists did in Good Time or Uncut Gems, he is punished for his striving.
Chalamet is doing a bit, and in his promos for the film he is still doing the bit. What makes him more like an old-school movie star is that, unlike the other actors who try to be "real," he is fitting this film role into his new persona as a Dumb Sports Guy. Which is also a bit. It's ironic.
What I find interesting about this movie is that, as a perfect Gen Z film, it subsumes irony and exists with it. It is like the hustler grindset compilations: it says this is bullshit, but I am good at dealing with bullshit, even if I don't really expect to win much from it.
I think this is right, reminds me (theme-wise) of Adam Driver in "While We Are Young".
Consider that Chalamet (who again delivers) supposedly put in extensive time to practice rather than solely rely on CGI for the ping-pong scenes. IN CONTRAST TO Marty, who spends almost NO time practicing for a world championship tournament. Chalamet wants to be great and wants to be recognized as being great, Marty wants the latter.
Could not agree more with your assessment of the Phoenician Scheme and WA in general. His films have an immense emotional power, which is only magnified by their insistence on foregrounding their formal stylistic choices. I find the general insistence on his films being TOO Wes Anderson, too cold or effete, or mannered utterly bewildering. They bring me to tears all the time.
What did you think of aronofsky's Caught Stealing? I found the constant tension & chaos of Marty supreme to be very similar, you’re left agonising over the main character being put through punishing scenarios. Feels like we’re seeing a return to kind of 90s Guy Ritchie / Danny Boyle Trainspotting / late 80s After Hour Scorsese comedy thriller genre; frenetic, gritty, violent & funny.
Other films I enjoyed of 2025: The surfer, Harvest, A complete unknown, Weapons, Bugonia, The Stranger, The Mastermind
got a sterne scolding in a packed theater b/c me & my gf couldn't stop (soundlessly) laughing during a very quiet moment of Sentimental Value : the person next to me yelled "DO YOU MIIIIIND!?" and i was so filled with rage i could no longer enjoy the movie
disagree with the superlatives you give Marty Supreme even as I enjoyed it (being stress-edged for over three hours lost its charm, ultimately), I will grant that it is one of the only period films I've seen in the last 10 years that feels of its time.
Agree about the stress of how chaotic and frenetic it was, endurance flirting with boredom at the too-much-ness of it. I'm aware this is not a culturally sophisticated take. Sam's review did help me to appreciate its ambition and technical achievement, but it felt self-indulgent in many places, including the overly long ping-pong scenes. And don't get me started on the treatment of the few women characters.
You seem to really be taking Marty Supreme at its word as a depiction of hustling, can-do spirit, and the attitude to win.
The whole joke is that this movie is about ping-pong. Marty himself is incredibly annoying, and while he doesn't get quite the comeuppance as the protagonists did in Good Time or Uncut Gems, he is punished for his striving.
Chalamet is doing a bit, and in his promos for the film he is still doing the bit. What makes him more like an old-school movie star is that, unlike the other actors who try to be "real," he is fitting this film role into his new persona as a Dumb Sports Guy. Which is also a bit. It's ironic.
What I find interesting about this movie is that, as a perfect Gen Z film, it subsumes irony and exists with it. It is like the hustler grindset compilations: it says this is bullshit, but I am good at dealing with bullshit, even if I don't really expect to win much from it.
I think this is right, reminds me (theme-wise) of Adam Driver in "While We Are Young".
Consider that Chalamet (who again delivers) supposedly put in extensive time to practice rather than solely rely on CGI for the ping-pong scenes. IN CONTRAST TO Marty, who spends almost NO time practicing for a world championship tournament. Chalamet wants to be great and wants to be recognized as being great, Marty wants the latter.
You don’t get it
Could not agree more with your assessment of the Phoenician Scheme and WA in general. His films have an immense emotional power, which is only magnified by their insistence on foregrounding their formal stylistic choices. I find the general insistence on his films being TOO Wes Anderson, too cold or effete, or mannered utterly bewildering. They bring me to tears all the time.
What did you think of aronofsky's Caught Stealing? I found the constant tension & chaos of Marty supreme to be very similar, you’re left agonising over the main character being put through punishing scenarios. Feels like we’re seeing a return to kind of 90s Guy Ritchie / Danny Boyle Trainspotting / late 80s After Hour Scorsese comedy thriller genre; frenetic, gritty, violent & funny.
Other films I enjoyed of 2025: The surfer, Harvest, A complete unknown, Weapons, Bugonia, The Stranger, The Mastermind
Love how your reviews holds family in the tension between comfort and curse.
got a sterne scolding in a packed theater b/c me & my gf couldn't stop (soundlessly) laughing during a very quiet moment of Sentimental Value : the person next to me yelled "DO YOU MIIIIIND!?" and i was so filled with rage i could no longer enjoy the movie
After the Hunt was fantastic. Guadagnino's films always unsettle me and then I have the strongest craving to rewatch.
Leaving for the cinema in 16 minutes to see Marty Supreme. Very much looking forward to it. I'll read the rest of your review afterwards...
Marty Supreme might be the greatest film ever, yet still somehow not as good as Heaven Knows What