Marty Supreme (2025) Film Review: A sensational cinematic experience led by captivating Chalamet charm

---

Loosely inspired by the life and career of American table tennis player Marty Reisman, Marty Supreme (2025) is an epic sports comedy/drama starring Timothée Chalamet in the title role as Marty Mauser, a self-assured hustler/con artist in pursuit of greatness.

The film is directed by Josh Safdie (Uncut Gems, 2019; Good Time, 2017), who co-wrote the screenplay with frequent collaborator Ronald Bronstein, with Darius Khondji brought on board to direct the cinematography, and Daniel Lopatin to compose the score.

An A24 project, the film premiered at the 2025 New York Film Festival and has gone on to receive critical acclaim, with praise directed towards Safdie, Bronstein and many deeming Chalamet's performance as a career best.

Whilst not viewing the film as the faultless masterpiece many other critics are currently hailing it as, this is undoubtedly one of the best movies of the year and deserves its well-earned spot in the limelight.

Young, ambitious Marty Mauser (Chalamet) uses his smooth-talking charm to seduce former actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow)

In a similar fashion to Uncut Gems, this is a boisterous, consistently intense film which is both mesmerising and mentally exhausting. It mostly plays out like a screwball comedy, with Marty's unstoppable determination to make it big in the table tennis arena resulting in a constant battle of successes and failures, as he lies and schemes his way to the championships.

This speedy sense of anxiety-inducing adrenaline and absurdist chaos parallels the lead's wacky personality. Watching this character fall into and overcome multiple setbacks makes for a thoroughly entertaining watch, although there is an uplifting coming-of-age aspect to the narrative as Marty eventually comes to terms with what is actually meaningful in life.

The movie paints a fascinating portrait of American ideals and culture, examined through the unique lens of the niche sport that is table tennis. Striking a perfect comparison to the game itself, the film occupies a dizzying sense of momentum and supercharged energy, bouncing between many wild circumstances.

Marty himself is erratic and giddy, fueled by serious ambition and obnoxious, egocentric tendencies. Throughout the whole movie, Marty is constantly committing morally abhorrent acts in his pursuit of greatness and escaping the humble life of a shoe seller in his uncle's store, which he sees as beneath his talents.

Despite being set in the 1950s, comparisons to modern living and the 'masks' people wear to ascend the ranks certainly make for interesting food for thought. It presents a cautionary tale of what goodness can be lost when greed and compulsion are taken to the extreme.

To fully immerse himself in the character, Chalamet took table tennis lessons for several years and trained for months before filming, performing all of the ping pong sequences himself with very little involvement from the stunt team

Marty is the classic embodiment of an anti-hero, with his hyperactive, often brash and rude nature making him largely unlikable, which is only challenged by the compelling aspect of his passion for table tennis. It is a difficult task for any actor to take on and, luckily, Timothée Chalamet was the perfect man for the job.

Without a shadow of a doubt, this is one of the most brazen performances of the year, with Chalamet giving it his all in every scene and fully dedicating himself to this character, with years of preparation behind him. He never shies away from the ugly side of the role and is completely convincing during the tense table tennis sequences.

This may very well be his much-anticipated Oscar-winning performance, but only time will tell!

The film is surprisingly completely unexpected with its plotting, encompassing a diverse medley of genre conventions and not following the typical sports comedy/drama format. The multiple plot diversions as Marty gets himself in and out of socially awkward or even life-threatening situations make the bulk of the narrative and lead to quite unpredictable viewing, with the spontaneity of events authentically reflecting what real life can often be like.

Although all of these set pieces are admittedly fun and well performed, the narrative is arguably a tad bloated and a little too self-indulgent at times. One does begin to feel the two-and-a-half-hour runtime as we eventually pivot towards the final act, with several subplots and character drama becoming quite overwhelming and exhausting.

Fifteen minutes are so could have been cut out for a slightly more efficient final product; however, Chalamet expertly carries the film on his shoulders with his endearing charisma, therefore, the long length can be easily forgiven due to this engaging lead performance.

The film is bristling with chaotic energy, constantly moving and bouncing between several subplots and pushing the protagonist to his very limit as he strives to pursue his dream

Technically, the film is exquisite, with the largely utilised 35mm film resulting in a lovely grainy quality to the image and gorgeous cinematography. Safdie's vibrant direction orchestrates dynamic camerawork and plenty of close-up shooting, emphasising an uncomfortable, claustrophobic style.

A motivational, upbeat synth/electro score combined with 1980s pop hits furthers the manic energy and emotional stakes of scenes. There is clearly immense talent and passion for the cinematic arts, both behind and in front of the camera, showcasing the best usage of filmmaking techniques to enhance the story.

All in all, Marty Supreme is a complete whirlwind of comedy, drama, sport and a sprinkle of coming-of-age merged in between. It is difficult to clearly define or categorise, and it is brimming with provocative ideas and infectious energy.

Led by one of the most talented, versatile actors of his generation and featuring fantastic supporting performances all around, whilst proudly displaying its technical mastery in every frame, this movie is a must-see for Chalamet and Safdie fans, as well as film fanatics in general.

Check out the trailer for Marty Supreme (2025) below, and please let me know your thoughts in the comments!