Displaying items by tag: Fran Drescher

MARTY SUPREME

US, 2025, 159 minutes, Colour.

Timothee Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, Luke Manley, Geza Rohring, Koto Kawaguchi, Penn Jilette, David Mamet, Fred Hechinger, Levon Hawke, Fran Drescher, Emory Cohen, Sandra Bernhard.

Directed by Josh Safdie.

This is not the most modest of titles! And modesty is not a word associated with the central character, New Yorker, in his 20s, the 1950s, Marty Mauser. The film opens with Marty unwillingly working in a shoe shop owned by his uncle. But then the reveal, that Marty is something of a champion table tennis player. (While there are many sport films, it is something of a surprise to find such a big budget entertainment focusing on table tennis, some wonderfully filmed games, fast, lightning flash, some acrobatics, quite a sport!).

Timothee Chalamet has been nominated for awards for his performance. He has had extraordinary success on screen for almost 20 years, his range most recently including Willy Wonka, Paul Atreides in the Dune films, and Bob Dylan. His Marty Mauser is an entirely different character and Timothee Chalamet offers an exhilarating performance.

As we watch Marty and his manipulations to get himself to London for the British tournament, conning people, taking money, not worried about consequences, we realise that on the surface, he can be quite beguiling but the real Marty? Borrowing from another reviewer who listed some of his characteristics: a young man who is at once charming, a rogue, a hustler, arrogant, likeable, infuriating, flamboyant flair, driven and supremely confident. We spent 2 ½ hours in his company.

And, there is a lot going on, his approach to ageing film star, Gwyneth Paltrow, seductive, offering advice for her stagecraft, but still stealing her necklace. Then there is her husband, a wealthy CEO for a pen company, proposals for a PR table tennis match in Japan, Marty versus the top Japanese player, fake defeat – but then Marty makes some sort of self-assertion.

Meanwhile, Marty’s married girlfriend, Rachel, is pregnant. Marty clashes with his mother, Fran Drescher, goes to a hotel, told not to use the bath, then its crashing through the roof on top of a mobster, played by director, Abel Ferrara, and some complications, ultimately quite violent, in the search for his runaway dog. One never knows what tangle Marty will be caught up in next.

The film was actually based on the real-life Marty Reisman and his 1974 autobiography, The Money Player: The Confessions of America's Greatest Table Tennis Champion and Hustler. The film stays in the 1950s but it is worth Googling Marty Reisman who was still playing table tennis in the 1990s and lived into the 21^st-century.

There is a great deal to enjoy while watching Martin Supreme, the star performance, the complications of the character who is able to move chameleon-like from one situation to the next, even capitalising on failures, always with the smart word, unscrupulous in manipulating even his closest friends, with a huge ambition to be the best in his chosen vocation of table tennis. He is a rogue who can get away with anything even when he is losing.

But, the filmmakers chose several endings for the film, some realistic, some surreal, deciding not to take Marty beyond the 1950s – but, to audience relief in some ways, an unexpectedly gentle finale.

The screenplay has been co-written and directed by Josh Safdie who used to make films with his brother Ben, who made the 2025 wrestling sports film, The Smashing Machine.

1. Based on a true story, the 1950s, Marty’s subsequent careers?
2. The title and tone, Marty and his ego, con man, charm, exploiting people?
3. The table tennis film, audience interest, the game, players, competitions, post World War II, Japan?
4. The introduction to Marty, his age, moustache, selling shoes, interaction with the customer, the encounter with Rachel, his uncle, his fellow worker, the offer to be manager, his refusal? Lloyd and the money, the gun, taking the money?
5. Marty, his family, distance, home, the scenes with his mother?
6. The production of the table tennis balls, with Marty Supreme? Dion, his enthusiasm, the uncle, Dion and his support?
7. Marty, getting to London, in the competition, his skill, reputation, his goals? The encounter with the competition manager, the accommodation, going to the hotel, his presumptuous demands? The encounter with Kay, the phone call, talk, her husband, the CEO of the company?
8. His games with the former champion, his history and a concentration camp, friendship?
9. Meeting Kay, her career, her marriage, the sexual encounter?
10. With Rockwell, intruding into his office, the talk, the proposal about the exhibition match?
11. The encounters with Endo, his skill, ordinary worker, death, Communications? Winning?
12. The ups and downs of the proposal, the championship, integrity, promotion? Marty and his associate, there vaudeville performances with the Harlem Globetrotters?
13. Back to New York, the police, Rachel and her pregnancy, her angry husband?
14. The friendship with Wally, driving the taxi, the table tennis group, the old hotel, told not to use the bath, its collapse?
15. Ezra, the mobster, his dog, the bar falling on him, the dog, the promise to take the dog to the vet, in the car, Marty at the bowling alley, hustling, the money, going to the gas station, the attack, the damage to the taxi, the garage fire? The dog running away?
16. Kay, the play, the rehearsals, the director, the actor, Marty intruding, offering his advice? Taking the necklace, trying to pawn it? The sexual encounter, Kay telling him it was costume jewellery? The offer to give him another necklace?
17. Dion, Marty’s sponging on him, with Rachel, the accommodation? Taking his car, searching for the dog, the house in the countryside, the man with the gun, the shooting, the car crash? Dion angry, throwing away all the ping-pong balls?
18. The encounter with Kay, in the park, police, the bad reviews, Kay returning, not able to see Marty?
19. Rockwell, Marty trying again for the competition, the humiliating episode of the literal spanking?
20. Ezra, kidnapping, Marty and Rachel with the fake dog, going to the farm, the shootout and deaths, Rachel wounded? Discovering the fake reward paper, impact? Rachel, the injuries and her husband, going into labour, the hospital, giving birth?
21. At the hospital with Rachel, the split second timing to get on the plane to go to Japan, the issue of the fine, his not being allowed entry into the competition? The clash with the official?
22. The exhibition, going according to plan, his loss, the humiliation, the humiliation of kissing the pig, the Japanese crowd? His dignity, willing to play a proper game?
23. The rematch, the tension, US military support, Marty winning, on the plane home with them?
24. The end, hospital, with his mother, Rachel, the baby, holding it – and his tears? Prospects for Marty’s future?

SPINAL TAP: THE END CONTINUES

US, 2025, 83 minutes, Colour.
Rob Reiner, Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Kerry Godliman, Valerie Franco, CJ Vanstone, Jean Cromie Schmit, Garth Brooks, Tricia Yearwood, June Chadwick, Fran Drescher, Griffin Matthews, Elton John, Paul McCartney, David Furnish, Chad Smith.

Directed by Rob Reiner.

From the 1984 review of the original – the same for this sequel which indicates that the sequel is very much in the spirit of 40 years ago, a great deal of repetition but enjoyably so, especially for the fans over the decades and, hopefully, a happy surprise for newcomers.

“This is Spinal Tap is described as a rockumentary. It is an entertaining satire on the world of rock and roll, the false glamour, the gigs, the personalities, management, promotion. It has some comments on the stars, their way of life, the groupies, the effect of popularity on temporary celebrities.

The film was devised by Rob Reiner (son of Carl Reiner, from All in the Family etc.) and the costars, friends Christopher Guest and Michael McKean. There is a lot of improvisory comedy - which generally works. Particularly effective is American stars portraying English pop stars as they were in the '60s and '70s as well as in the '80s. Reiner acts the part of the trendy director of a trendy film. Parodying such movies as Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz with its portrait of The Band, the film uses all kinds of television methods, interviews, live action, the backstage drama etc. The methods of making the film are clever and an effective part of the parody.

The film has become something of a cult film.

We are told that the group had been touring to 2015. Then there had been some falling out. But, through a contract with their now deceased manager, his daughter has the rights for a final concert. Director Rob Reiner reappears as the fictitious director, enjoyably tracking down his friends, now in England, discovering their past story and their relationships, and persuading them to regroup. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer are now in their mid to late 70s! But, donning the wigs and the clothes, the accents, playing their music with skill, they are back again.

So, enjoyable back stories, the gathering in New Orleans, the preparation for the concert, bickering at the rehearsals yet playing quite a number of their songs, quite extensive as we see during the final credits, a collage of trying to find a drummer and getting a very exhausting and exhaustive Valerie Franco entering into the spirit of the things.

And a bonus is a visit from Paul McCartney and his singing with them, and a visit from Elton John with David Furnish photographing, and Elton John singing in the final concert and experiencing the huge disaster when a reproduction of Stonehenge collapses on everyone!

Fans will appreciate the re-acquaintance and be delighted that they have not changed. And there is the enthusiastic fan atmosphere, especially at the final concert. And, again, the music, skilful instrumental performances, the lyrics.

But, for this reviewer, there was a continued delight in the verbal humour, quips, wisecracks, puns, plenty throughout the film, not dwelt upon, just throwing them out for our enjoyment. Some examples – a concert for The Night of the Assisted-Living Dead, not hearing the truth because of the sound of the mind shutting down… And even the title suggesting that the end continues!

1. The popularity of the original film, music, bands, the 1980s in the previous decades? Spoof and satire? The characters, performances, parody?
2. More of the same, 40 years later, the situation, the separation of the group after the performances? Marty, the director, his narration, the plans, to reunite the group, his going in search of each? Nigel and he is presence in England, his partner, cheese and guitars, the rate of exchange!? David, resenting Nigel, composing music, prime pod casts, holding music for phones? Derek, glue?
3. The manager, dying, his daughter in heritage, her plans for a final concert, collaborating with Marty? The reuniting of the group, their distinctive personalities, interactions, the music together, lyrics, songs, arguments, arrangements?
4. The music sequences, enjoyable, the creativity, the performances, yet the squabbles? The background of musicians, the videos, using the music, characters from the past, managers, interviews?
5. All McCartney and his visit, the critique, singing? Elton John and David furnish, their presence, singing together, Elton John on stage – and the finale, the crash, hospital?
6. The search for the drummer, the auditions, Dede Crockett and her energetic performance, Caucasian Jerry and his playing?
7. The presence of Simon, collaborating with the daughter, the discussions, his lack of music sense and appreciation, his comments, interference, group irritated by him, the audience irritated by him – and the play of his name and the similarity to celebrity, Simon Cowell?
8. New Orleans, the rehearsals, preparing the venue? The Stonehenge stage?
9. Rehearsals, resolutions, the range of the songs, Hell to Pay – Hello Toupee, the night, going on stage, the performance, Dede and the movement of the Stonehenge Arce, Elton John, the plane, the fans and enthusiasm, the collapse, the injuries? The aftermath, hospital?
10. And the verbal humour throughout, the wisecracks, the ironic commentary, the puns…?