Peneflix MOVIE REVIEWS BY PENEFLIX
In an era where antisemitism, perpetually hibernating, but recently celebrated and gifted legitimacy, even the US has tolerated its rise. Now bursting forth from the grimness of 2025 is a film, crafted by Jews, of monumental proportions and integrity, breathtaking in its innovation, written by Josh Safdie (“Uncut Gems”) and Ronald Bronstein. Starring a thirty-year-old man whose mother is of Austrian Russian Jewish heritage. Timothee Chalamet is the sure-fire winner of this year’s Academy Award for Best Actor. It is a performance of blinding, prodigious, blistering resourcefulness and strength; one for the historical archives of film.
Director Josh Safdie infused “Marty Supreme” with Jewish actors: Timothee Chalamet (“Marty”), Gwyneth Paltrow (“Kay Stone”), Fran Drescher (Marty’s mother), Odessa A’zion (“Rachel Mizler”), Geza Rohrig (“Bela”), Sandra Bernhard, Emory Cohen; it is 1952, New York City. There are those bearing the numbered tattoos, mementos, survivors of the concentration camps; living in communities reminiscent of European ghettos; it is a close, nurtured, safe environment where memories haunt but culture and Jewish lore are safeguards against lurking, amorphous hatred of the “other”. The center of this scenario is the megalomaniac “Marty Mauser”, Chalamet’s genius seers throughout as does the script. He is glib, charming and can lie his way from one dilemma to another; catastrophe after catastrophe, Job-like (another nice Jewish guy); he bests and champions the court and the bedroom; his split second seduction of aging film star “Kay Stone” (Paltrow) is farcical, but believable; there is no obstacle that can defeat his ambition or ego. An ego of gigantic proportions, fear and failure forbidden; even the worst diminishments will not curtail, only inflame, his resolve.
The film is flavored with the mystique of Academy Award winning films “Son of Saul” (2015) and “Zone of Interest” (2023); made by Jewish directors Laszlo Nemes, and Jonathan Glazer. The musical score and barking dogs referenced the “dog” “Honey” also the film-defining “honey consuming” scene, score with the quest for survival. No longer focusing on the “banality of evil” but peculating with the subtlety of insults: kissing a pig (treif), references to Jewish “greed”. Marty, not overtly Jewish or religious, but sports a Magen David necklace, while flaunting Jewish jokes. Sagacious casting of Kevin O’Leary, (Shark Tank), vulturous, business vampire “Milton Rockwell”, Kay Stone’s cuckolded husband, his film debut; surprises include David Mamet, Tyler the Creator, a myriad of others.
Settling on the sport acuity of Marty Reisman (1930-2012), U.S. table tennis champion in 1958 & 1960; recalling other Jewish, iconic heroes: Daniel Mendoza (1765-1836), first Jewish boxer to win celebrity status, and the list evolves well into the present: Hank Grenberg (1911-1986), Sandy Koufax (1935-), Al Rosen (1924-2015) baseball; Marty Hogan (1958-) racquetball; Sid Luckman (1916-1998), football; Mark Spitz (1950-) swimming; Ali Raisman (1994-), gymnastics; the prolific list carries on in all sports arenas.
“Marty Supreme’s” encapsulating moment occurs when Kay Stone askes Marty “if this little dream of his does not work out?” Smiling he answers, “it never even entered my consciousness.”
Why should it?
FIVE STARS!!!!!
Peneflix
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