“Marty Supreme” subverted the expectations of many moviegoers when they heard it was a movie about a famous ping-pong player. This movie is not a feel-good biopic about a rising athlete, nor is it only about ping-pong.
Instead, it is a portrait of a ruthless and egotistical young man. It follows Marty Mauser, who is roughly based on real-life table tennis champion Marty Reisman, and his journey to become the world’s greatest table tennis player.
The movie is influenced by Reisman’s memoir, which was published in 1974, “The Money Player: The Confessions of America’s Greatest Table Tennis Champion and Hustler.” I had originally planned to read his memoir to hear from Reisman in his own words, but the only one I could find was for sale at a price that “hustler” Marty Reisman certainly would have been satisfied with: $6,000.
Though critics argued the movie diverged too much from Reisman’s real life, Timothée Chalamet portrayed Mauser’s arrogant character with such conviction that it seems he has not been able to descend back down to the world of mere mortals.
His wild marketing campaigns included a bright orange blimp, appearances at pop-up shops selling overpriced merchandise, and even climbing the Las Vegas Sphere. Chalamet’s promotion of the film has people questioning if he has adopted the persona of his character or if he is just living out his dream of becoming “one of the greats,” as he expressed in his controversial acceptance speech for Leading Male Actor in a Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2025.
Aside from Chalamet, other notable cast members include actress Odessa A’zion, who plays Mauser’s unfortunate childhood friend and lover, and musician Tyler, the Creator, as Mauser’s friend and fellow ping-pong player.
“Shark Tank” judge Kevin O’Leary portrays Milton Rockwell, a businessman who becomes interested in Marty Mauser and his table tennis as a way to market for his company. While Rockwell and Mauser attempt to put aside their reservations about each other and make a deal that benefits both of them, Mauser has an affair with Rockwell’s wife, Kay Stone, played by actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
“Marty Supreme” is a story of how prodigies and people with potential for greatness often struggle because their passion and drive clouds their judgement.
But it is these traits that allow them to excel beyond what is expected of normal human ability. In the case of Marty Mauser, these characteristics can also cause him to come crashing down.
Mauser is set on becoming the greatest table tennis player in the world, and in his attempt to achieve this, he tosses aside everyone in his life. This movie is an engaging interpretation of what the pursuit of success can do to a person, but it does not shy away from the notion of failure.
