While 'Marty Supreme' celebrates its success during awards season, racking up Oscar nominations for Timothee Chalamet's performance and casting direction, there are those who are not in favor of the film, such as the family of legendary table tennis player Marty Reisman.

Far from feeling honored, the heirs of the "ping-pong wizard" have publicly expressed their deep discontent with the portrayal of the athlete in the acclaimed A24 film, directed by Josh Safdie.

According to statements to the Daily Mail, the Reisman family maintains that the film, presented as a work "loosely inspired" by his life, ended up damaging his image and dignity.

Why does the family disagree?

The family's main complaint is their complete exclusion from the project.

“The public doesn't know that the Reisman family wasn't involved in any aspect of the project and hasn't received a single penny of the profits,” said Roger Reisman, the athlete's grandson. For his descendants, the character played by Chalamet—whom they describe as a “street hustler and eccentric showman”—is a caricature that ignores the essence of the man they knew: his discipline, his work ethic, and his legacy as one of the greatest players in history. “They made him look like a petty criminal,” said Debbie, Reisman's daughter. "My father wasn't like that. He made me feel special when I was a child. I want people to know that." The family pointed to specific scenes they consider false and offensive. Josh Reisman, another grandson, mentioned one in particular: "The scene I can't get out of my mind is when the financier whips him. That was humiliating and desperate, and it doesn't represent what he stood for... He would have been mortified if he were alive." They also question the use of material from Reisman's autobiography, 'The Money Player' (1974), which they claim was used without his consent or acknowledgment. For them, These decisions respond more to a search for visual impact and the characteristically intense and chaotic style of the Safdie brothers than to an honest portrayal.

Criticism of films inspired by true events

The controversy surrounding 'Marty Supreme' is part of a recurring debate in films based on true events. Films such as 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'The Social Network', and, more recently, 'Michael' have faced similar criticism from family members or close associates for prioritizing dramatic cinematic narrative over historical accuracy.

Although the creators of 'Marty Supreme' have legally protected themselves by presenting it as a work "inspired by" the real-life events, this distinction has not been enough to quell the discontent of the ping-pong player's family.