Timothée Chalamet has spent much of his career chasing roles that test his range and seriousness as a movie star. Since breaking through in Call Me by Your Name, he has mixed prestige projects with blockbuster swings. With Marty Supreme, that ambition reaches its most extreme form yet. Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a gifted but wildly egotistical ping-pong prodigy who believes greatness is his birthright. From the opening moments, Marty radiates confidence, charm and an almost reckless sense of entitlement. He does not simply want to succeed—he needs the world to recognize him as exceptional.
Josh Safdie’s controlled chaos
Directed by Josh Safdie, co-creator of Uncut Gems, the film embraces relentless momentum. Set in 1950s New York, Marty Supreme masquerades as a sports movie before gradually revealing itself as a character study about obsession and self-destruction. Safdie and co-writer Ronald Bronstein build a narrative that mirrors Marty’s spiraling psyche. Scenes stack on top of one another with little breathing room, creating a sense of forward motion that feels intentionally exhausting. At 149 minutes, the film occasionally overstays its welcome, but the excess appears to be part of the design.
A portrait of obsession, not victory
Marty does not chase trophies alone. He hustles underground table tennis clubs, manipulates wealthy patrons and alienates those closest to him. In post-war America, the sport holds little cultural weight, but that only sharpens Marty’s desperation to be seen. What begins as the story of an impassioned dreamer slowly transforms into a cautionary tale. The film is less concerned with whether Marty wins than with how far he is willing to go—and who he is willing to sacrifice—to feel validated.
A strong supporting cast
The chaos surrounding Marty is amplified by a vivid supporting ensemble. Odessa A’zion stands out as Rachel, Marty’s pregnant girlfriend who refuses to be sidelined by his ambition. Fran Drescher brings abrasive intensity as his overbearing mother, while Gwyneth Paltrow makes a notable big-screen return as a Hollywood figure drawn into Marty’s schemes. One of the film’s biggest surprises is Tyler, the Creator, who makes a memorable acting debut as Marty’s cab-driving accomplice. A standout sequence involving a scam gone wrong perfectly captures the film’s anarchic energy.
Chalamet unleashed
Ultimately, Marty Supreme belongs to Chalamet. He fills every frame with nervous energy, rapid-fire dialogue and physical restlessness. The performance is intentionally abrasive, designed to wear the audience down just as Marty wears down everyone around him. The film is not subtle, tidy or universally accessible. It is loud, chaotic and frequently overwhelming. Yet that excess is what makes it compelling. Whether or not it represents Chalamet’s “greatest” performance, it is certainly his most fearless.
