Marty Supreme

Although director Josh Safdie flies solo for Marty Supreme, he delivers an incredibly fun, intense, and captivating epic that sees Timothee Chalamet reach new heights. The film sees Chalamet play Marty Mauser, a young American ping pong player who’s desperately scouring for resources to play in big overseas tournaments to earn his self-believed right to be seen as the best in the world. With Marty Supreme, Safdie brings that signature approach for anxiety-riddled thrills that made Uncut Gems an absolute nerve-shredder. Although Marty has legitimate skill in the sport and is more than capable of competing on the world stage, his desperation constantly puts him in dangerous spots. His hustling schemes blow up in his face. He’s constantly making promises he doesn’t keep. And, he often uses those closest to him as tools in his plans. In short, Marty is his own worst enemy and some of the situations he puts himself in will make you sick with uneasiness. Seriously, when things fall apart for Marty, it’s in spectacular, gut-punching fashion. And, once things go too far and Marty’s self-respect is at an all-time low, you’re left stunned by how his ego is brutally beaten. 

Yet, even for Marty being a fairly grimy character, Chalamet makes him wildly entertaining, oddly endearing, and somewhat relatable. He embodies that yearning for greatness most people, especially athletes share, and never flinches with doubt at anything that comes his way. Even when he’s spewing some fast-talking nonsense or says something mean to just get his way, it’s hard not to care for him. You respect his efforts and skill, and there’s a distinct charm Chalamet taps into to make Marty a captivating force. It’s an absolute stunner of a performance that deserves all the awards it can gain and further proves that Chalamet is simply one of the best actors out there – continually pushing towards that all-time great category he’s determined to obtain. It helps too that he’s surrounded by an incredible supporting cast of talent, like Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma, and Gwenyth Paltrow, who work within Safdie’s vision flawlessly. At its core, Marty Supreme is that perfect type of sports drama that fits Safdie’s style well, and taps into that universal desire for personal victory that culminates in a nail-biter ending filled with high emotion and tearful conclusions. 

Marty Supreme is another must-watch from Josh Safdie that embodies the best of what sports-dramas do and showcases Chalamet as an all-time best. It brings a wide range of emotion out of viewers through the sheer desperation of its lead character and the undeniable heart of his ambitions – ultimately making you laugh, cry, and shudder with his every move. Marty Supreme is a top film of 2025, and is the perfect film to give Chalamet the Oscar-glory he’s been on the cusp of for so long.