There were probably some people watching the 83rd Golden Globes on Jan. 11, who found themselves stunned when Leonardo DiCaprio’s name was not called out as the envelope was opened for the Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
After all, “One Battle After Another” was racking up award after award. However, it was Timothée Chalamet’s performance in the lead role in “Marty Supreme” (A24) that earned the actor that distinction and the statuette.
Both “Marty Supreme” and “One Battle After Another,” which clock in at well over two hours in length, would have benefited from a good editor. Set more than 60 years apart, each film features main characters who are compulsively driven to complete personal missions at any cost, in addition to extremely pregnant women, and references to racial and religious prejudice.
Marty (Chalamet), a 23-year-old, acne-scarred clerk at his uncle Murray’s (Larry “Ratso” Sloman) New York shoe store, has other ambitions. He wants to be a table tennis superstar and compete in matches across the globe. He certainly has the skills to do so. He also wants to move out of his manipulative mother Rebecca’s (Fran Drescher) apartment. More than anything, he wants the $700 his boss promised him. But there are complications and bad decisions, such as having an affair with retired movie star Kay (Gwyneth Paltrow), impregnating his married neighbor Rachel (Odessa A’zion), and robbing a co-worker at gunpoint.
In typical Safdie Brothers fashion, “Marty Supreme” throbs with manic energy (see their “Uncut Gems” and “Good Time”). For an unexpected twist, listen to the anachronistic music on the soundtrack, including ‘80s acts Tears For Fears, New Order, Public Image Ltd, Peter Gabriel, and Alphaville.
The determined Marty is faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles along the way, including a ruthless businessman (Kevin O’Leary), nosy neighbors (including out actor Sandra Bernhard), a violent dog owner (Abel Ferrara), a jealous husband, a trigger-happy farmer, crooked cops, a vengeful official, and angry ping-pong hall hustlers. And yet, Marty perseveres, escaping a variety of life-threatening situations. Thankfully, there are also plenty of humorous moments, especially in the scenes between Marty and his buddy, Wally (out rapper and actor Tyler, the Creator).
When all is said and done, “Marty Supreme,” which is Josh Safdie’s solo debut feature, takes its main character, as well as the audience, on an adrenaline-fueled journey, leaving us emotionally drained but satisfied. It’s also an odyssey that won’t soon be forgotten.
Rating: B+
