Marty Supreme

Marty Supreme

Released December 25, 2025

Directed by Josh Safdie

Written by Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein

* No Spoilers - but some brief discussion about the overall structure and story*

Marty Supreme, written and directed by Josh Safdie, follows a fictional ping-pong prodigy and 1950s street hustler determined to make everything harder than it needs to be. Much like 2018’s Uncut Gems, this is a stressful, chaotic, and anxiety-inducing trip through a series of disastrous events. Thankfully, this is far less dim and has a bit more charm, largely due to the main character. 

Though disguised as a screwball con-artist film blended with an underdog sports drama, at its core this is a character study. Marty Supreme is structured as a series of vignettes tracking Marty’s ambitions as a table tennis champion. Each side quest builds character as much as it entertains. It’s kinetic, constant, and gripping, pulling you along for the ride and never letting go. 

Marty Mauser, played brilliantly by Timothee Chalamet (Dune: Part Two), is a wrecking ball. He is deeply flawed and continuously putting himself (and others) into progressively worsening situations. Marty is hateable and endearing at the same time, achieve a balance that the Safdies do so well. Chalamet embodies the character physically, with pale acne ridden skin, a bushy unibrow, and glasses that distort his eyes into mischievous beady dots. He appears to be an unassuming dweeb but carries himself with an arrogance that should not be as charming as it is. 

It’s frustrating to see how he easily talks himself out of any situation only to wind up digging himself into a deeper hole. A runaway train of frenzied madness that is incapable of doing the right thing. Despite everything in his life falling apart, he appears carefree, with no plan, just making it up as he goes with an assured acceptance that he is “going to figure it out.”  

The prototypical entitled American. Claiming self-sufficiency, he believes success only counts if he achieves it himself. His hypocrisy is laid bare as his achievements are largely built on the backs of others’ grace. We eventually see him for the ambitious and arrogant jerk that he is, but you still somehow root for him. 

I would have had a hard time connecting with Marty, but Chalamet plays this with such nuance and complicated emotions that you can’t help but like him. He embodies chaos, desperation, and even one surprisingly beautiful moment of pure joy. It’s one of the best moments of the film, happiness tempered with responsibility, and a long awaited coming of age moment. Despite always putting on great performances, he truly shines here, even amongst other capable actors. Chalamet as Marty is the life of this story and he more than carries the film. 

The supporting cast is also fantastic. Newcomer Odessa A’Zion (Until Dawn) feels authentic and conflicted as Rachel. Far from being just a love interest, she is as driven and resourceful as Marty but gets pulled a bit too deep into his world. Gwyneth Paltrow (Avengers: Endgame), as much as I dislike her, is great as Kay Stone, an actress well past her prime struggling for relevance. She, like many other characters (and the audience), gets entangled with Marty and continue to give in to his charm. 

The Safdies have a tradition of using non-actors in their films, casting them as the personalities they embody in real life. They extract that archetypical essence, and use  it to serve the story. Tyler the Creator is featured in more than a few scenes and is surprisingly good, but is playing a version of himself. 

Then there is Kevin O’Leary from Dragons Den and Shark Tank. I hoped he would just have a cameo, and part of me didn’t even want to watch this because of him. Unfortunately, he is one of the main characters, and though I hate to admit it, he plays a great villain. O’Leary is perfectly hateable, playing a crass, shrewd, and cutthroat businessman who cares only about the bottom line, basically himself. He comes across as natural but I hesitate to even call this a performance since he is just speaking with the same condescension and arrogance he does normally. What better way to make the audience root for a loathsome hero, than to make the villain even worse. I hope he doesn’t get any recognition for this because all credit should be attributed to the direction and writing, not his acting. 

Josh Safdie is a genius at bringing out great performances but where he really excels is in creating a constant forward momentum. The plot feels all over the place but that’s not a bad thing because it is all in service of the character. Drawing on the two aspects of Marty’s life, sports and hustling, the film is a fantastic balance of both, without committing to either. 

The table tennis is exhilarating, showing us the matches almost in full and pulling back to wider angles so we see the actors actually doing the trick shots and intense rallies. Whether or not Chalamet developed the skills or it was movie magic, I was convinced he was capable. There are moments where everything goes quiet, isolating the sound effects, colour commentary, and reactions of the crowd. You can’t help but feel riled up and put into the moment viscerally. In one scene the announcer is speaking Japanese, none of it’s translated but you are perfectly aware of whats at stake. The uncertainty of whom will triumph is palpable. Marty Supreme perfectly distills this anxiousness, tension, and adrenaline, nailing the essence of a sports film. It feels grand and epic despite being a game of ping-pong.

Interspersed amidst this sports drama is a period hustle/con-artist film akin to Catch Me if You Can but far more unhinged. Marty is busy swindling, scamming, and doing whatever he can to fund his ambitions and he needs to do it quickly. After the start of the second act this is a constant roller coaster of one scam, fraud, and hustle after another. Digging himself deeper and deeper because he loves the thrill of pushing it just one step too far. Easily distracted by the next score, things keep going awry, until his bad decisions and near misses coalesce in a harrowing scene that had me on the edge of my seat. 

Shot on film using vintage lenses and showcasing brilliant set design, you are firmly placed into that era. It’s textured, grainy, and full of organic lighting that captures the atmosphere of 1950s New York. The cinematography and camera movements are top notch. Establishing the chaotic and unnerving feeling with uncomfortable close-ups, fast moving tracking shots, and copious use of handheld camera work that perfectly serve the underlying vibe.

The sound design and music are also impeccable. The table tennis scenes are visceral, with rackets clicking and clacking and the crowd sounds swelling as the anticipation builds. Encompassing and at times overwhelming these scenes are deeply captivating. The music is also phenomenal, both the tracks that were selected and the propulsive original score, which reminded me at times of Bloodsport. It’s full of retro synths, pulsing bass, and epic choir vocals layered over each other. In the same vein, the licensed music contrasts the time period, opening and closing with recognizable 80s hits that are so on point thematically. A unique choice that makes this period piece feel timeless. It’s hypnotic and keeps you locked in for the entirety of this persistent 2 hours and 29 minute runtime. 

I hesitated with this one, partly due to the hype and largely because of Kevin O’Leary, but this completely deserves the praise it is getting. Shedding the typical art house pretence, this feels accessible. It’s full of laughs, including some very dark humour, but it is deeply charming and endearing. From its ludicrous title sequence to the surprisingly moving conclusion, Marty Supreme demands your attention and investment. It grabs you by the collar and drags you through a journey of chaos, failure, and triumph. Through each botched scheme or failed scam you hope for things to go well, but at the same time know the characters don’t deserve it, yet you root for them nonetheless. Despite all this intensity, crass humour, and contemptible behaviour, Marty Supreme, like the character, will win you over with its heart, charm, and unrelenting propulsive momentum. 

9/10 - A non-stop roller coaster ride of tension and anxiety, that excels as a sports drama, and hustler con film, while never committing to either genre. Marty Supreme is a character piece through and through anchored by Chalamet’s brilliant performance and Josh Safdie’s masterful direction. This is an excellent film that relishes in its chaos and will surely attract a lot of well deserved praise. 

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