His scenes with Chalamet were often the most crass, but they were invigorating to the film’s narrative. With O’Leary not being a trained actor, this is a strong performance that offers more than what one would suspect. 

Oddessa A’zion is Marty Supreme’s secret weapon. There is a level of grace to Azion’s Rachel Mizler that feels as though she is innocent. There are so many instant quotations, especially when she first shows up on screen; she is Marty’s most prized possession, though he is oblivious to it. The lengths she goes to carry out Marty’s plans are loyal, but dangerous. The worry and care she has for Marty in the most dangerous moments in the film show that Rachel is willing to go to Hell just to find comfort and stability in the end. 

Fast-Paced Direction

Josh Safdie’s direction further enforces his love for tension-heavy films with flawed, memorable characters. There is always something ripping about a Safdie film, and with Marty Supreme, it’s about believing in oneself. Safdie showed through a myriad of facets that Marty had no shot at being successful or proving to himself that he was greater than he was. At every turn, whether it hurt someone else or not, Marty made his goal a reality, even if it knocked him down a few pegs. Safdie’s direction further showed that Marty Supreme is a coming-of-age story, where a childish boy becomes a fraction of a man by the end. This is what makes Marty Supreme a superior solo debut because, in conclusion, it speaks volumes without confirming nearly anything about what the future holds for Marty. 

Generational Effects

The film’s technical aspects are beautifully detailed, and the cinematography is showy and blatant. The film takes place in the 50s, but the cinematography feels refined for a film set in the 50s. There is something futuristic with Marty Supreme that makes it feel present-day. The thought and the idea of one chasing their dream really radiates the film’s period because it works as a lived experience that anyone in the audience can experience, even if the access isn’t fully realized yet. The production choices and the fast-paced camera work make it more pleasing to the eye regarding the madness that is taking place on screen. The lighting is dim throughout to make up for the film’s production design, especially during scenes where Marty’s in trouble or at a ping-pong match. These moments show that precision is quality over quantity, giving credence to the idea that even dreams in practice make crucial impacts, big ones. 

Daniel Loptin’s score is one of the film’s most effective accomplishments; it’s electrifying. There are so many great score tracks from Endo’s Game, The Call, and The Real Game; all of these tracks work to add a different sound that is even illustrious in scale but mercurial in scope. The score is intellectual in a way that can’t really be comprehended because of how much chaos the narratives are met with, but due to ambition, it’s settling more so than harrowing. The score remains consistent throughout the entire film, and it’s one of the film’s greatest accomplishments because it keeps your eyes glued to the screen from a lens that is universal in scope. The score is 80s-centric, though the film takes place three decades prior. It works so beautifully because it heightens the film’s already tense narrative, making for a momentous catharsis. 

Conclusion

Marty Supreme does live up to the standard of dreaming big. Josh Safdie’s signature pressure-cooking, fast-paced tendencies invigorate the film at every turn. Giving the audience no room to breathe while making it clear that the audience is entitled to dream big, no matter the cost. The performances are amazing, and even more from Timothèe Chalamet as the titular lead. 

Watch Marty Supreme in theaters now!