Marty Supreme Review: Timothée Chalamet Gives the Performance of the Year in Josh Safdie’s Exhilarating Sports Dramedy

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If you had to pick one word to describe Marty Supreme, it would be ‘relentless.’ It’s also a hilarious, raunchy, and sometimes shocking film, with a surprisingly touching ending. But most of all, it feels like a thrilling, fast-paced experience from beginning to end.

Calling Timothée Chalamet a “revelation” doesn’t quite capture it. He’s already shown incredible talent many times before. Chalamet is a truly gifted actor for his generation, and his portrayal of Marty Hauser – a charming, quick-witted, and sometimes harsh shoe salesman in post-war New York who dreams of becoming a table tennis champion – might be his best performance so far.

Third Time’s the Charm? Chalamet Deserves the Oscar For This

It sounds ridiculous to talk about giving someone an Oscar when they’re only 29, but honestly, this actor deserves one already! It’s time to recognize their talent.

Timothée Chalamet quickly established himself as a versatile actor, starting with his breakout role in Homeland and continuing with his critically acclaimed performance in Call Me by Your Name – a role that earned him an Oscar nomination and, many believe, deserved a win. He’s proven he can handle anything, from leading large-scale science fiction films like Dune to shining in historical dramas (Little Women remains a popular meme), delivering strong comedic performances (Lady Bird), taking on biographical roles (A Complete Unknown), and even starring in whimsical musical prequels like Wonka.

Let me tell you, Timothée Chalamet deserves an Oscar for his work in Marty Supreme. Seriously, this role is a showcase for his incredible range as an actor. He plays Marty Hauser, and it’s a fascinating coming-of-age story. Initially, Marty is… well, let’s just say he’s not always the most likable guy. But you can’t look away! You’re constantly wondering what outrageous thing he’ll say or do next in his relentless pursuit of ping-pong greatness. It’s captivating, and Chalamet nails every single moment.

For their new film, Safdie and co-writer Ronald Bronstein (who previously wrote Good Time and Uncut Gems) drew inspiration from the life of American table tennis player Marty Reisman. Interestingly, they don’t seem concerned with making the audience immediately like or sympathize with their version of Marty. He comes across as self-absorbed in the beginning, and he’s unkind to almost everyone around him – including his girlfriend Rachel (Odessa A’zion), his worried mother (Fran Drescher, who doesn’t have enough screen time), and his boss and uncle, Murray (Larry Ratso Sloman).

What makes this movie work so well is a clever, understated approach. The story is a whirlwind of funny, chaotic, and sometimes dangerous events as Marty desperately tries to raise money to beat a Japanese table-tennis champion and prove he’s the best. This fast pace cleverly masks Marty’s personal growth. By the end, even though he makes some bad decisions, his emotional journey feels genuine and satisfying. The script sets things up, but Timothée Chalamet’s carefully nuanced performance is what truly makes Marty’s transformation believable.

The Uncut Gems Comparisons Are Unavoidable, But Safdie’s Signatures Are Also Great Here

Having seen Marty Supreme, it immediately struck me how much it feels like a spiritual sibling to the Safdies’ Uncut Gems. They brought back almost the entire creative team – Darius Khondji on cinematography, Daniel Lopatin composing the music, and the Safdie brothers alongside Bronstein handling the editing. It’s not just a visual similarity, though. The story itself has a familiar urgency. Like Adam Sandler’s character in Uncut Gems, Timothée Chalamet’s Marty is racing against time to get the funds he needs, though the stakes, at least from the outside looking in, feel a little less catastrophic.

How people react to the film’s familiar style will vary – some will love it, others might find it repetitive. However, the film’s energy works really well, largely because it’s moved from the crime thriller genre of Uncut Gems to a sports dramedy. There’s a natural humor in seeing someone take ping-pong so seriously, but the film hinges on Timothée Chalamet convincingly portraying Marty’s absolute dedication – he never lets on that it’s funny, and that’s crucial to the story.

The film is also technically impressive. The camerawork by Khondji matches the film’s fast pace, and the music by Lopatin – a unique mix of historical and 80s-style electronic sounds – creates an interesting and unsettling atmosphere that adds to the film’s tension.

Marty Supreme Has an Eclectic Supporting Cast, All in Service of Elevating Chalamet

The movie boasts a huge and diverse supporting cast. It features established actors like Drescher (the director specifically wanted to cast a classic Jewish New York mother, and she perfectly fit the role), up-and-coming talents like A’zion, and even rapper Tyler the Creator, who makes an impressive film debut as Wally – Marty’s partner in both ping-pong and mischief, and also his cab driver. Adding to the mix is a surprising appearance by Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary.

I wasn’t sure about O’Leary’s casting, but he’s surprisingly hilarious as Milton Rockwell, the wealthy husband of Kay Stone, who captures Marty’s attention. It’s an important role, and he has great chemistry with Chalamet, playing off of Marty’s wild behavior. Though Milton is a fairly simple, somewhat villainous character who gets in Marty’s way, O’Leary’s performance is much better—and more playfully cruel—than I anticipated. Another highlight is Abel Ferrara, the indie filmmaker, who plays the enigmatic Ezra Mishkin and adds a lot of drama to one part of Marty’s journey.

The casting of Gwyneth Paltrow as Kay is interesting because it mirrors the character’s story: Kay is a former Hollywood star who’s fallen on hard times, and Paltrow herself had stepped back from acting when she was chosen for the role. While the movie mainly focuses on Marty, Paltrow still manages to portray Kay as a complex and sympathetic character. Kay is a sad figure, unhappy with the choices she’s made and trapped in a marriage where her wealthy husband sees her more as a possession than a partner.

Paltrow and Chalamet share a surprisingly strong connection on screen. Paltrow effectively portrays the unexpected bond between Kay and Marty, a connection that even Kay finds surprising. The film also subtly reveals Kay’s inner complexity, showing her as surprisingly perceptive. Kay understands that Marty doesn’t love her, and she doesn’t love him either. However, she recognizes his desires and seems to have a clear understanding of her own.

I have to admit, Kay’s storyline didn’t quite give me the closure I hoped for, but thinking about it, that actually feels deliberate. It mirrored how Marty treats so many people – using them until they’re no longer useful, and especially how he handles women. It reminded me of Rachel, and even his mother and aunt – the women in the film seem to exist primarily within Marty’s world, rather than having fully developed lives of their own. It’s clear this is Marty’s journey, and sadly, those around him are often just caught in the crossfire.

Safdie’s new film has all the energy and style we’ve come to expect from him, making it one of the most exciting movies of the year and a fantastic vehicle for Timothée Chalamet. Even if Chalamet doesn’t win the Oscar – with strong competition from Ethan Hawke in Blue Moon and Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another – his performance is truly exceptional and a joy to watch. It’s worth seeing just to witness a talented actor at the top of his game.

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2025-12-01 20:12