The Amherst Cinema Reel: A Review of Marty Supreme
By Grace Chai
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Walking into Amherst Cinema’s Carol M. Johnson theater on a chilly Wednesday evening, I was greeted by the smell of buttered popcorn and the sound of people chatting in low voices, the plush blue seats illuminated by the soft glow of lights on both sides of the theater.
Visiting Your Local Movie Theater Matters
In an era when modern streaming platforms dominate entertainment, taking the time to sit down in a movie theater and appreciate the creative vision and artistry that goes into producing a film is a rarity. Settling down to watch a movie that night evoked memories of seeing A Wrinkle in Time (2018) and Frozen 2 (2019) with my mom and sister. It reminded me how I was filled with awe upon hearing Idina Menzel’s voice boom through the sound system after my sister and I had fallen in love with the Frozen franchise back in 2014.
Being able to appreciate a communal watching experience is something I recently came into as an adult. While it is satisfying to be able to watch whatever you want with the click of a button with streaming services, there’s really nothing like laughing, gasping and sometimes crying with your fellow audience members as a story unfolds before your eyes. Even sitting through the previews is an experience that makes ads seem more interesting as the anticipation builds for the lights to dim and for the opening credits to appear on the screen.
Enter Marty Supreme
That’s how I felt watching Marty Supreme, the new sports-action film starring Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser, a rising table tennis star from New York, the story loosely based on real-life American table tennis champion Marty Reisman.
The movie opens in 1952 New York with Marty working as a shoe salesman, and follows his journey as he swindles, sweet-talks, and robs his way to the British Open, where he dreams of garnering wider support for ping-pong in the US.
What struck me the most about Chalamet’s performance was that he didn’t try to make the character seem likeable. In fact, Marty speaks with conviction through much of the film, presenting a facade of bravado when he is in reality, broke. Much of the action in the film involves him running away from the authorities and even from the people he should in theory care about, such as his childhood friend Rachel Mizler (Odessa A’zion), who he is having an affair with.
In another scene at the beginning of the film, Marty is working at his uncle’s shoe store in the Lower East Side when his uncle pulls him aside and tells him that he will be the manager. Marty, incredulous, asserts, “I’m not a shoe salesman!” multiple times.
His refusal to be anything other than himself is the hallmark of a typical protagonist, but a typical protagonist is also usually not conning his way into getting the $700 in order to make it to the British Open because he believes — despite what anyone else tells him he is — that he is a star.
Marty is selfish and sly, but he makes everyone around him bend to his will. He makes people believe that he is legitimate and so they can’t help but root for him. He is a dreamer, as evidenced by a scene shared with former Hollywood star Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow) where she questions why he continues to pursue his dream if he is broke and jobless — and what he would do if it doesn’t work out.
“That doesn’t even enter my consciousness,” Marty says, eyes serious but a smirk curving on his lips.
Even as he manipulates people in his favor, he continues to shake off any attempts from people to get close to him or to help him, saying “I got to do it completely on my own.” The individualism mixed with overconfidence makes Marty seem like more of a morally gray character, as someone who is seeking the ultimate American dream, which is admirable, but who is breaking all the rules and trampling people in order to do so. When he says “that’s how I grew up. Every man for himself,” we wonder how much the environment shaped him into the man he became.
Marty’s involvement with Kay and Rachel mirror his self-awareness and simultaneous choice to shirk all reason. In a scene where he sees Kay perform in front of an audience, he watches from the wings, then cons her that same day, revealing the irony of an actor fooling an actress. The whole “theater within theater” phenomenon is fascinating and echoes Marty’s own quote: “This isn’t table tennis. This is theater.” The absurdity of it all makes the movie a comedy as well as your typical action film.
The lights go up and the ending credits roll. The movie is over, and I’m still reeling from how realistic Chalamet’s acting is. He truly made me hate his character, and yet feel for him at the same time.
My Final Verdict!
Marty Supreme was met with critical acclaim, earning eight Critics Choice Awards nominations, with Chalamet snagging a win for Best Actor. It was also nominated for three Golden Globes in the categories of Best Motion Picture- musical or comedy, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Timothée Chalamet), which Chalamet won a few days ago.
If you’re interested in watching films like this one, I recommend heading to the Amherst Cinema for a matinee or evening show. The vibe of the theater is cozy and welcoming, and there are also concessions to buy: perfect for munching on while watching the latest blockbuster. Situated in downtown Amherst next to Amherst Coffee and the Bank of America, it’s also very accessible via bus — it’s about 10-15 minutes away depending on where you are on campus. Not only do students get a discount for tickets, but the cinema offers student memberships at a special rate that entitles student members to discounted movie tickets, free popcorn and sodas, and other perks.
As for the movie itself, I’d rate it a 7/10. I loved the special effects, color grading, and acting in the film, but I wish there had been a greater focus on how Marty grew up and how he became the person he is in the film. Check out more movies like Marty Supreme, and head to Amherst Cinema for some award-winning films next time you're in Amherst Center.
Thanks for joining me on my very first movie review, and I’ll catch you next time!
Featuring
Grace Chai
