Marty Supreme Review: Timothée Chalamet Gives Best Movie Performance
After several years apart from his brother, director Josh Safdie returns with Marty Supreme, a jittery, sweat-drenched, emotionally bruising sports comedy-drama that feels like a spiritual cousin to Uncut Gems and Good Time. While Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine from earlier this year marked a departure from their signature high-intensity style, Josh dives back into that chaotic, naturalistic world with total force. The result is one of the most electrifying films of the year—a movie about ping pong that pulses with adrenaline. Anchoring the frenzy is Timothée Chalamet, in his most commanding performance to date.
Loosely inspired by legendary American table tennis player Marty Reisman, Marty Supreme takes place in 1950s New York City, just as the underground world of competitive ping pong is beginning to develop a loyal, if unruly, following. Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, an up-and-coming talent whose charm is as potent as his self-absorption. Marty moves through life with quicksilver confidence—cocky, restless, and magnetic to everyone who crosses his path. His ambition borders on delusion, his swagger barely conceals insecurity, and his talent draws in admirers, opportunists, lovers, and trouble in equal measure.
Chalamet’s performance is a revelation not because it reinvents him, but because it synthesizes everything he does best. He has long been praised for his adaptability, with an uncanny way of adjusting to a director’s stylistic language, from Villeneuve to Guadagnino to Wes Anderson. Here, he slips seamlessly into Safdie’s frantic, lived-in cinematic world. The Safdie style asks for performances that feel uncomfortably real, almost documentary-like, and Chalamet tackles the challenge with exhilarating ease. His delivery is rapid-fire; dialogue rolls off his tongue with lightning speed. Marty always has a comeback, an angle, or a self-serving justification. Yet Chalamet ensures the character never becomes a caricature. He’s a mess of contradictions, and every ping pong rally, argument, fling, or self-sabotaging decision adds another dimension.
As with Uncut Gems, Safdie takes a while to set the table. The opening act is measured, almost deceptively calm. But by the time the first major ping pong sequence arrives, you can immediately sense the hours of training Chalamet must have poured into the role. The rallies crack with kinetic tension. Safdie shoots the matches with impeccable energy. From that moment, the film kicks into high gear. The second act becomes a dizzying ride as Marty’s world tilts, spins, and eventually collapses around him. Every choice he makes drags him deeper into chaos. Every opportunity becomes a pitfall. It’s pure Safdie energy—claustrophobic, thrilling, and overwhelming in the best way.
The supporting cast adds layers of charm, danger, and heartbreak. Gwyneth Paltrow, making her first major non-MCU appearance in years, delivers a surprisingly elegant, grounded turn as Kay Stone, a wealthy actress and socialite who embarks on a passionate, complicated relationship with Marty. She doesn’t have a ton of screen time, but she makes every minute count. Paltrow plays Kay with a mix of sophistication and longing; her scenes with Chalamet crackle with a fascinating power imbalance. She represents a different world from his, but she, too, is drawn to Marty’s reckless charisma.
Odessa A’zion brings emotional heat as Rachel Mizler, Marty’s married childhood best friend and occasional lover. A’zion plays Rachel with an aching, conflicted intensity. She is caught between the life she chose and the one she imagines could still be hers, and her scenes with Chalamet add a sweet, grounding emotional counterweight to the film’s high-octane momentum.
Kevin O’Leary is an unexpectedly perfect fit as Milton Rockwell, a businessman who sees financial opportunity in Marty’s rising profile. The role isn’t far removed from the abrasive, no-nonsense Mr. Wonderful persona he’s known for on Shark Tank, but O’Leary proves surprisingly captivating on screen. He commands every scene with sharp precision and gives Marty a foil whose menace comes not from physical threat but from money, power, and manipulation.
Safdie’s direction is hyper-specific and relentless. Every scene feels fueled by nervous energy. The 1950s setting is recreated with tactile authenticity. It’s a gritty, lived-in city full of smoke-filled backrooms, neon lights, and cramped apartments. The sound design is dizzying, the camera movements are kinetic, and the pacing will leave you breathless.
By the time the finale arrives, Safdie has slowly, meticulously tightened the tension to the point of near-explosion. The last act is a masterclass in escalating chaos. Every plot thread, every bad decision, and every emotional rift converges into one explosive sequence that is as stressful as it is exhilarating. It’s the kind of ending where audiences feel like they’ve been holding their breath for twenty straight minutes.
Marty Supreme is far more than just a ping pong movie. It’s a character study, a pressure cooker, a love letter to New York, and a testament to Josh Safdie’s ability to transform everyday obsessions into cinematic thrill rides. Above all, it’s a showcase for Timothée Chalamet, who delivers another career-defining performance. He’s sharp, manic, hilarious, infuriating, and impossible to look away from. This is filmmaking with pulse, grit, and swagger. And like its protagonist, Marty Supreme aims high, swings hard, and hits with unforgettable force.
SCORE: 8/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our Marty Supreme review.
Source: Comingsoon.net