Marty Supreme Review: Timothée Chalamet And Josh Safdie Ratchet Anxiety Up To 11, And I Love Every Second Of It

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I’ve always loved movies, and it really comes down to one thing: getting lost in the story. Films quickly transport us to different worlds and let us experience the lives of others. In just a couple of hours, they can make us feel deeply – whether it’s happiness, sadness, excitement, or fear. As we follow the characters and their challenges, we connect with them and share their emotional journey.

Marty Supreme

Here are the details for the film: It will be released on December 25, 2025, and is directed by Josh Safdie. The screenplay is by Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie. The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, Koto Kawaguchi, and Fran Drescher. It is rated R for pervasive language, sexual content, some violence, and nudity, and has a runtime of 150 minutes.

Filmmaker Josh Safdie, known for his collaborations with his brother Benny (including films like Good Time and Uncut Gems), often focuses on characters who push their limits and chase risky goals. His 2019 film Uncut Gems famously had audiences on the edge of their seats watching Adam Sandler’s character desperately gamble to get ahead. Now, in 2025, Safdie is delivering another intense cinematic experience, this time centered around a determined athlete striving to become the world’s best table tennis player.

It’s hard to convey the sheer energy and tension of Marty Supreme just by reading about it. However, that highlights the power of film to truly immerse you. While you might not personally care about becoming a world-class ping pong player, Timothée Chalamet’s character, Marty Mauser, cares deeply. His passion and unwavering belief in himself jump off the screen, making Marty Supreme one of the most captivating and exhilarating movies of the year.

We first meet Marty in 1950s New York as he gets ready for his first international table tennis tournament. He’s worked hard and saved every penny to make the trip, believing it will be worth it. He’s confident he’ll be the first American to win the championship, and that his victory will popularize both him and the sport back home. His charismatic personality and quick wit earn him a warm welcome, but his plans are disrupted when the travel ban to Japan is lifted. He then meets Koto Endo (played by Koto Kawaguchi), a skilled competitor who uses an unusual grip and paddle that throws other players off their game.

Marty’s forced to retreat, but he’s determined to bounce back and achieve his dreams. He starts a series of schemes to raise money, including playing ping pong for bets with a friend (Tyler Okonma), having a fling with a famous, married actress (Gwyneth Paltrow) whose husband (Kevin O’Leary) is a rich businessman, and attempting to collect a reward for a lost dog owned by a menacing gangster (Abel Ferrara). All this while dodging his overly anxious mother (Fran Drescher) and an angry uncle (Larry “Ratso” Sloman), and dealing with the shock of learning his married childhood friend (Odessa A’zion) is expecting his baby.

Marty Supreme is a stunning, thrilling execution of organized chaos.

Looking at it from a purely logistical standpoint, the amount of story packed into Marty Supreme seems overwhelming, even for a film nearly two and a half hours long. However, the film’s clever structure and well-managed conflicts make it surprisingly engaging and fast-paced. The script, written by Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein, is brilliantly complex, introducing numerous plot threads and characters without ever losing track of them, and ultimately resolving everything in a satisfying way.

The adventure truly comes alive thanks to the talented cast and the interesting characters they play, all of whom connect with the main character, Marty. The contrasting personalities of his two love interests – Odessa A’zion’s Rachel and Gwyneth Paltrow’s Kay – force Marty to show different sides of himself, revealing both his strengths and flaws. Even the smaller roles, like Marty’s friend trying to help him with a quirky business idea (Luke Manley) or a volatile farmer (Penn Jillette), are memorable and add to the story.

Josh Safdie and his team beautifully bring a bygone era to life, capturing the vibrant and gritty atmosphere of mid-20th century New York with clear affection. From cramped apartments to luxurious homes, the film’s production design is remarkable, and Darius Khondji’s cinematography—with its distinctive texture only achievable through film—heightens the energy and makes even a simple table tennis match incredibly exciting.

Even with a high bar set, this is Timothée Chalamet’s greatest work to date.

The film Marty Supreme showcases its lead actor at the peak of his abilities, which is remarkable considering he’s only thirty years old and has already established a high standard for future performances. Timothée Chalamet first gained widespread recognition in 2017 with films like Lady Bird and Call Me By Your Name, and he continues to improve with each new role.

Marty is a surprisingly compelling character, even though he’s designed to be unlikeable. He’s arrogant, self-centered, and always acts like he deserves special treatment, readily stepping on others to get what he wants. Yet, despite these flaws, he’s undeniably charismatic and driven, possessing a certain confidence that feels genuine. It’s a difficult role to pull off, requiring a delicate balance, and Timothée Chalamet’s performance demonstrates his extraordinary talent.

As a total film buff, I can tell you this isn’t just a movie you watch – it’s an experience. For 150 minutes, I was completely swept away, cheering one moment, laughing the next, and genuinely on the edge of my seat. Honestly, my heart was racing! Marty Supreme is truly magical and I think everyone needs to see it.

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2025-12-30 04:09