You’d have to be completely removed from social media to miss the creative marketing campaign A24 rolled out to promote their latest film, Marty Supreme. From the big orange blimp floating in the sky to the fire ass bomber jackets (I need one, A24!) that celebrities like Tom Brady and Frank Ocean have been seen wearing, it’s been made clear that Marty Supreme is something you should become familiar with. It’s imperative to highlight the marketing because this will be one of the main reasons people check out the film out of pure curiosity, unless you’re a film enthusiast like me who knew this was sure to be a banger after seeing the initial trailer drop. I knew when the time came to discuss this project, I was ready to give the PR team their flowers, as we’ve recently seen how some films have tanked at the box office when promoting a film is not a priority (the orange ‘Dream Big’ drawn on pictures should have been a collab with IG as a featured filter).
Directed by Josh Safdie, who gave us the anxiety-inducing Uncut Gems also from A24, Marty Supreme follows Marty Mauser, played by Timotheé Chalamet, on his quest to become the greatest table tennis player of all time. Although it isn’t a true story, the character at the center of it all very much is, as Marty Reisman’s name was changed in the film. Reisman rose to fame in the 1950s as a decorated table tennis champion, author, and entertainer who went by the nickname ‘The Needle’. The film also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Abel Ferrara, Tyler Okonma, and Fran Drescher.
Marty Supreme is the kind of movie that comes out swinging full of confidence and swag, and never lets off the gas. It carries the tone of something that knows exactly what it wants to be: stylish, bold, and sharply tuned to the cultural noise of the moment. Whether you come for Chalamet’s attitude, the concept of the story, or to see if Safdie delivered another hit after the world fell in love with Gems, you’re in for a treat when you get a full dose of all of the above. It’s a fast and clever story that earns most of its big swings as it fills the fairly long runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Chalamet lands a top 2 career best performance as a hustler-philosopher hybrid whose ambition is only matched by his knack for getting in his own way (Beautiful Boy is still his best work). In true Safdie form, the film plays out fast-paced and chaotic in a good way as it avoids fluff and filler scenes by consistently contributing to the plot and the building of the characters. Mauser is an extremely great player with ambition like no other, but you’d be a fool not to be slightly put off by the way he uses the people around him with no remorse. Chalamet is extremely good at playing someone we love to cheer for, yet question some of his decisions. Nonetheless, you find yourself respecting his hustle more than anything. His quick-witted smart remarks make for some great dialogue, making his acting thrive off of his delivery. It would be criminal if he doesn’t earn a Best Actor nomination at next year’s Academy Awards.
A’zion gives us a standout performance in a sea of characters with her being the center of the emotional angle of the film. We can feel her heartbreak and pain watching someone she loves be so dismissive and dry towards her. Okonma (better known as highly successful rapper Tyler The Creator) as Wally makes for a hilarious sidekick to Mauser as his best friend. This marks his feature film debut, and he couldn’t have been more entertaining on screen, especially with how the role fit his personality so well and was extremely believable. I’m sure this will lead to Okonma landing more projects in the future because dude is a natural. The one addition to the cast that fell flat was Paltrow, as there was really no need to land a big name to play her part. It was pleasant to see her on screen, but, with such a nonmemorable character, she could have easily been any other face as she didn’t elevate the film. Same can be said about the iconic Drescher, whom I don’t recall if she spoke a word in the film, to be honest. It was actually a tad bit awkward to see the two sharing intimate scenes as they don’t quite fit chemistry-wise, not to mention their age gap. Ironically, it’s the paparazzi photos of Chalamet and Paltrow sharing a kiss in a tunnel that put Marty Supreme on the radar before filming wrapped.
What stands out first is the energy as the film really moves with scenes snapping together with clean pacing, and the dialogue hits with a rhythm that feels lived-in and not overly polished. Marty is written as someone who talks fast, thinks fast, and often lies even faster, but the writing gives him enough vulnerabilities to keep him human. When the story slows down to let us sit with his loneliness or his desperation, it lands just as intended. The supporting characters bring additional stress, especially the frustrated partners and opportunistic rivals who orbit Marty’s world. The chemistry between the cast strengthens the overall tone, especially in confrontational scenes that give the story its bite. The visual style is such a classic New York aesthetic, showcasing both the rich and poor classes.
Ultimately, Marty Supreme succeeds because it knows how to blend character, commentary, and attitude. It’s a story about ambition and determination, but also the truths we run from. It’s stylish without being shallow, smart without being smug, and playful without losing its edge. It’s an entertaining time as you watch a mess unfold and get put together in its finale to give it all meaning. Chalamet keeps climbing the ladder year after year towards his road to greatness that he’s been speaking about, and what a role to parallel exactly that. With this release, he is pushing out a hit each December for 3 consecutive years, with A Complete Unknown last year and the highly anticipated third Dune installment set to hit theaters next December. As we wrap 2025, Marty Supreme slides in to make its case for one of the best movies of the year and solidify their claim on the shortlist for next year’s award season! It’s damn near a lock for the Best Picture and Best Actor nominations, that’s for sure! I may have been a bit long-winded with this review, but with the rush this movie gives you, plus the phenomenal performance from Chalamet, this was justified.
Marty Supreme hits theaters Christmas Day
