He’s one of the most unlikable sports heroes on film. But Director Josh Safdie gets us to like him anyway. There is not much attractive about Marty physically or emotionally and yet, Timothée Chalamet completely embodies this young upstart who looks like he’s ready to explode at any chance to show off his skills with paddle. Set in the grit and grime of 1950’s New York City, we meet Marty Mauser, an unpredictable New York City hustler. His game is playing ping pong whenever and wherever he can money and fame. His hustle buddy and partner Wally, (Tyler Okonma – Tyler, the Creator) is right there getting him matches for money.
Chalamet trained, practiced and played ping pong for 6 years to pull off his athleticism in the sport, and makes it look like the paddle is attached to his hand. Marty’s goal? Not only to make money but get to play in the World Championships tournament in London to make a name for himself. He’s obsessed. He will let nothing can stand in the way of his next game.
We spoke sports briefly to Safdie at a reception in Chicago in a lively discussion about wrestling, another fun spectator sport. But we also talked with him about how songs from the 1980’s is used effectively in scenes set in the 1950’s.
Safdie, directing his first film, solo, since breaking from brother Benny after Uncut Gems co-wrote this script with Ronald Bronstein who also worked on the Adam Sandler drama. This is a fictionalized story based on a ping pong player in the 1950’s named Marty Reisman. Chalamet doesn’t do anything half-way in this film, using prosthetic makeup and constant lenses, wearing his hair and clothes 50’s style. He plays a Jewish kid in post WWII in America just trying to get ahead. His mother, Rebecca (Fran Drescher) worries about him incessantly.
This film clips along at a breathless pace. We first see Marty as a super shoe salesman in his uncle’s store trying to figure out how soon he can get a game going. But he can be easily sidetracked by sex. When his married friend Rachel Mizler (Odessa A’zion) from elementary school shows up at the store, they go hot and heavy in the storage room. She is his alter ego with some of his same obsessive behavior that can upend their plans. Rachel can pull off scams and grifts just as quickly and effectively as Marty. She is his match, but taken for granted. As soon as he gets a chance to paddle that little white ball again, he’s off to the races.
Marty uses all the tools in his box to get what he wants. That includes fast-talking charm, lying, stealing, scheming, even romance. Chalamet handles all of the above and more well. Even playing a clown doing ping pong stunts at Harlem Globetrotters games, and trading shots with a real seal. He’ll do whatever he has to do to play ping pong for money.
That, too, for his scenes with Gwyneth Paltrow in her first non-MCU film since 2019. She plays a fading actress who married into high society, the wife of industrialist Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary-the real life billionaire and star of Shark Tank). She brings upper crust glamour and cool that complicates Marty’s life. Seeing them sexy together is incongruous. She wants sex and he is looking to get money from her husband to bankroll his ping pong passion. When Marty pleads with Rockwell to fund his dream to win, Rockwell his wildest condition was to give Marty the spanking of his life. And Chalamet let him!
Marty is impressive and expressive when he wins, but he’s a hot head. He’s destructive and self-destructive when he loses. But watching Marty master a paddle is something to behold. Cinematographer Darius Khondji catches every action-packed serve and return as the players leap and slam the ball at break neck speed at each other from every angle. Each match that Marty participates in gets even more tense and exciting, which is often uncomfortable to watch That’s exactly what Safdie is known for. He’s a brash filmmaker, like his characters.
Marty becomes a marked man when he gets involved with some underworld thugs. One scene that stays with you when he literally rides a bathtub through a flop house ceiling onto the floor below. That outrageous scene is definitely hilarious and memorable.
After many trials and tribulations, Marty finally gets to meet the ping pong nemesis, Endo, (Koto Kawaguchi) the definition of inscrutable, who beat him in London for a rematch in Japan. Safdie sets the stage for a battle that has political overtones with American soldiers cheering, while American sponsor, Milton, who has something to gain, intently looks on.
The score by Daniel Lapotin (Oneohtrix Point Never) along with tunes used in this film are like characters themselves telling Marty’s story. Although songs including “Forever Young” and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (Tears for Fears) are from the 1980’s, but work well in this 1950 setting. Production Designer Jack Fisk adds signage and props to create vintage storefronts, delivery trucks and cars, and makeover building exteriors with signs and props to look old.
Some of of the ping pong volleys are unrealistically tricky and take too long to keep up with. The big matches feel drawn out, with so many cutaways to the scoreboard and spectators. The film is just too long, but Safie pulls it off. Chalamet proves he can transform into any character he commits to. He goes above and beyond with attitude to burn. By the end you may be rooting for Marty, like us, against your better judgement.
A24 2 Hours 30 Minutes R
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