Overview
- Now in wide release after a pre‑Christmas platform run, Josh Safdie’s solo feature draws praise for its frenzied, high‑tension filmmaking.
- Timothée Chalamet’s turn as hustler Marty Mauser is earning career‑best notices and fresh Oscars buzz from early reviews.
- The story is loosely based on 1950s table‑tennis star Marty Reisman, with intentional deviations from the record, including shifting a 1952 tournament setting from Bombay/Mumbai to London.
- The film leans on an eclectic ensemble, with eye‑catching appearances by Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara and Penn Jillette.
- Kevin O’Leary recounts that Chalamet performed a much‑discussed paddling scene without a stunt double, highlighting the production’s commitment to authenticity.