Timothée Chalamet was buzzed early in the Best Actor race by people who had not yet seen Marty Supreme. His “Oscar story” was already being crafted as someone who almost won last year for playing Bob Dylan. The versatile actor has now shapeshifted into a ping pong player in a film by Josh Safdie. It has been compared to Uncut Gems both favorably and unfavorably.
Of Timothée Chalamet, Josh Safdie said he wrote Marty Supreme for him and for “his essence and his soul.” Chalamet, for his part, said the movie is a love letter to New York, what it was, what it is, and what it can be. Note Gwyneth Paltrow’s bemused “what am I doing here” look.
Missing is Kevin O’Leary because these folks would implode and have fits of mass hysteria if he showed up (please let him get nominated so we can watch that in real time).
And here is the whole cast at the NY Film Festival:
Here was Chalamet before he shaved his head into a buzz cut in an ad for Chanel:
The thing you have to understand about the Oscar race now, as opposed to what it used to be, hype is driven by these kinds of encounters with greatness. Imagine you were there and heard that this was a part written for Chalemet, who then walks out onto the stage. You see this kind of reaction in the crowd:
It’s a sensation that was once gifted to film fans on opening day. I remember those days. I grew up in those days, and I also know this world. The frenzy can’t always be replicated outside of this setting. Sometimes it can. But one should always take reactions to what feels like a religious revival with some skepticism.
On the other hand, in Safdies we trust. So I’m willing to keep an open mind, and if this is Timothée Chalamet’s year, I will cheer him on. Here is the live reax from Oscar Expert and the Brother Bro:
And some reactions from Twitter:
It is screening in Los Angeles but of course, I did not get an invite. Witches are not welcome to early screenings.
At first glance, I think he could win for this, but I’ll withhold my opinion until I see it for myself.
