I found Marty Supreme disappointing
I was so let down by this movie. I try to avoid knowing anything about movies as much as possible before going to see them. With Marty Supreme that was difficult since everyone was talking about it but I really only wanted to see it because I saw Tyler the Creator was in it. I didn't know it was the same writer and director as Uncut Gems but pretty early on I started to think it was.
There were similar themes like "success at all costs" and gambling, over confidence that can be unfounded, etc, and I think those are fun themes in films. My biggest complaint for Marty Supreme was how little I felt like I could connect to anyone in this story.
One of the best things about Uncut Gems is that the characters are both likable and unlikable at the same time. I felt like I cared about them as I watched their lives unfold in front of me. I cried when Howie had his meltdown with his girlfriend not because I thought he was a good guy or deserved redemption but because I know the feeling of trying your best and things not working out and I could feel his desperation. I did not feel anything like that in Marty Supreme. The closest I came to that was the "paddle" scene but it really did not connect the same way for me.
I think the concept of the character of Marty is great but the execution felt hollow. I read that Safdie wrote backstories for every character in that movie but I didn't feel that shining through at all. Not that the characters felt unrealistic, just that they all felt unrelatable and boring.
The worst part about this is when I try to find reviews of people who agree with me, all I am finding is people criticizing Marty and calling him a bad guy, unsympathetic and a narcissist. I feel like those people are missing the point of the film. I didn't think it was a bad movie, I just wanted more from it.
Uncut Gems is one of my favorite movies. There are so many layers to it and it has an almost mystical or spiritual vibe to it along with themes of race, shame, religion, family, loyalty, risk and addiction. I am both rooting for and against Howie the whole movie but there are so many other moving parts happening at the same time! The movie isn't just about Howie. Marty Supreme is just about Marty. Which would be fine if I felt like I could connect with him at all in any way.
Maybe this has just been my experience but I love to hear other opinions in agreement or disagreement, I would love to discuss, not here to try to shoot the film down. I personally didn't like it but would love to have my mind changed.