The Filmcast After Dark Review: Marty Supreme
Dec 28, 2025
Delve into a spirited discussion that critiques Josh Safdie's Marty Supreme and its overconfident protagonist. The hosts debate the film's authenticity in depicting competitive ping-pong, while praising its craftsmanship. Themes of the American dream and Marty's character arc spark heated arguments, questioning whether his journey leads to genuine growth. Dive into memorable dialogues, explorations of systemic issues, and a comparison to Whiplash that adds depth to the film's bittersweet conclusion.
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Frenetic Filmmaking Drives The Story
- Marty Supreme uses frenetic, anxiety-driven filmmaking similar to Uncut Gems and Good Time to immerse viewers in a destructive protagonist's arc.
- The Safdie brothers' techniques (background casting, episodic escalation) create intense, entertaining momentum throughout the film.
Clear Message, Divisive Reception
- The film clearly takes a stance, and David Chen finds the stance convincing even if he disagrees with it personally.
- A movie can succeed technically at making a point while still leaving viewers unsympathetic to that point.
Comeuppance Instead Of Triumph
- Jeff Cannata reads the film as a sports-movie template inverted: you root against the protagonist and his final reckoning is comeuppance.
- He believes the protagonist becomes "slightly less of a piece of shit" after failure and confronting fatherhood.