The Safdie Brothers' Uncut Sports
The Safdie Brothers split has birthed two forthcoming sports films.
The first is a wrestling picture called Smashing Machine starring Dwayne Johnson (dir: Benny Safdie). The second is the newly announced ping-pong film Marty Supreme starring Timothée Chalamet (dir: Josh Safdie).
Both A24 films focus on characters who, like those in the Safdie’s other work (Uncut Gems, Good Time), are wild gamblers addicted to conquest.
Marty Supreme will center on the real-life tale of Marty “Supreme” Reisman, considered one of the greatest ping-pong players of all time, winning 22 major titles in his nearly 60-year career.
Supreme was a habitually destitute millionaire, winning and losing his fortune many times over, who hustled Dustin Hoffman, Kurt Vonnegut, David Mamet, Bobby Fischer, and just about anyone who could pick up a paddle.
Here’s an excerpt from a 2011 interview with the then 81-year-old Marty “Supreme” Reisman discussing his technique [spoken with a rapid-fire NYC accent]:
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