'Marty Supreme' Movie Review
Image Source: The Hollywood Reporter
In cheesy early-2000s trailer-announcer voice: How far would you go to follow your dreams?
That’s usually the defining theme of any good sports movie. The story of an underdog trying to defy the odds and accomplish their dreams is a tried-and-true formula that has done pretty well for itself. Audiences are always game to feel good in the theater and believe in the characters in a sports film, as well as themselves, well after the credits have rolled. But this isn’t one of those movies. In 2024, it was announced that the Safdie Brothers, some of the most acclaimed voices in modern indie cinema, would go their separate ways. The brothers, named Josh and Benny, had a decent number of credits, with the Robert Pattinson vehicle Good Time and the Adam Sandler-led masterpiece Uncut Gems being their biggest claims to fame. Benny would move on to focusing on acting, with roles in well-received films such as Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza, and Kelly Fremon Craig’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Benny would also go solo on the directing front, with the solid film The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Josh decided to go in a different direction.
Marty Supreme isn’t just a great movie; it’s an odyssey. Josh Safdie rose to the occasion and made one of the most unique and fascinating movies not just of 2025 but of the 21st Century. One cannot simply describe Marty Supreme since it often defies description. I could simply end the review right here, give it a rating, and call it a day. However, Marty Supreme deserves better than that.
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Image Source: GQ
On the surface, Marty Supreme is the story of a nerdy-looking man who wants to be the best ping-pong player of all time. And if you wanna take the art out of it, yes, that’s what it’s about. But if you expected the film to be a Rocky-esque story about the triumph of the spirit and overcoming the odds, you’ll be thankfully mistaken. Marty Surpeme is a cinematic monument dedicated to the dark side of what can be generously described as the American Dream. Our protagonist, Marty Mauser, wants to be the greatest ping-pong player in the world. Despite his impulsiveness, arrogance, immaturity, and misogyny, Marty is good at what he does and will not rest until he’s considered the greatest in the world. If you’ve seen posts on social media regarding this movie, there are a lot of questions about what the point of the film is supposed to be when the main protagonist is an unlikeable and greedy jerk with barely any redeemable qualities. Obviously, anyone with an inkling of media literacy knows that a protagonist doesn’t have to be a good person to be interesting or even relatable. Marty Mauser is a physical representation of our inner hustler. The version of ourselves we’d likely become if we forgot all moral boundaries and focused solely on “the dream.” Josh Safdie and co-writer/co-editor Ronald Bronstein are not at all interested in a fuzzy or comfortable story about following your dreams. Rather, they’re more interested in taking the audience on a surreal ride. Tugging on your brain as opposed to your heartstrings, if you will.
Josh Safdie effortlessly showcases that the split from his brother didn’t affect his ability to tell a great story. If anything, Josh has proven that he is the most artistically ambitious, technically savvy, and most intriguing storyteller of the two. Safdie maintains much of the same hyper energy as in his work with Benny, but it feels more kinetic and propulsive this time around. Marty Supreme starts at an 11 and only gets cranked further from there. The film is constantly moving, with very few quiet scenes. On paper, this seems like a bad thing, but Safdie makes it work. The movie itself is a lot like a ping-pong, constantly switching back and forth between comedy and drama. There are laughs to be had here, though most of them are uncomfortable. Working in tandem with cinematographer Darius Khondji, Safdie's distinct visual eye and knack for tightrope-walking multiple tones and characters help make Marty Supreme the most entertaining movie in his filmography.
Image Source: Los Angeles Times
A lot has been said about Timothée Chalamet’s performance as Marty Mauser. Since the very beginning of his career, Timothée Chalamet has collaborated with some of the most acclaimed filmmakers working today, including Christopher Nolan, Luca Guadagnino, Greta Gerwig, Wes Anderson, Adam McKay, Denis Villeneuve, Paul King, and James Mangold. While his Oscar-nominated turns in Call Me By Your Name and A Complete Unknown have proven him as a world-class actor, his well-received work in the Dune franchise and Wonka have propelled him to movie star status. The marketing for Marty Supreme is evidence of this, as A24 has never had the star of one of their films be featured this heavily. And for good reason, as Chalamet delivers what is far and away the greatest performance of his career up to this point. Marty Mauser is not an easy character to play because he is both slimy and relatable. As mentioned earlier, a film protagonist doesn’t have to be likable to be relatable, and Chalemet’s performance helps that mantra become a reality. It’s very hard to find a scene where you don’t wanna tell Marty to cut the crap or fight the desire to punch him in the face. And for an actor who is, respectfully, known for being cute, Chalamet pulling that off is a testament to his talent and the quality of Bronstein and Safdie’s screenplay. Absent is the hopeless Elio Pearlman, the romantic Laurie Laurence, the tortured Paul Atreides, the cool Bob Dylan, and the wide-eyed Willy Wonka. Chalamet’s range as an actor is showcased at full force in this movie.
Marty Supreme isn't a one-man show. The supporting cast is equally impressive. Gwyneth Paltrow gives her best performance in years, Abel Ferrara is chillingly good, Fran Drescher makes the most of her limited screentime, and Luke Manley delivers some of the film's biggest laughs. Tyler Okonma (better known as rapper Tyler, the Creator) proves himself to be a capable actor, and hopefully, we'll see more of him in films in the future. To my surprise, Kevin O'Leary is also pretty great in this. Casting a corrupt billionaire as a corrupt billionaire was probably pretty easy for Safdie and co. But it's Odessa A'zion as Rachel Minzler who nearly steals the show. She refuses to play the "crying love interest" role, and she frequently matches Chalamet's energy thanks to memorable dialogue and palpable chemistry. A'zion is having a breakout moment thanks to her Emmy-worthy performance in I Love LA, and she's proven herself to be a leading lady in the making.
Image Source: Yahoo Entertainment
As we start the new year, many filmmakers will try to leave their mark on the decade. In 2025, filmmakers such as Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson have more than accomplished that mission. Guillermo del Toro, Chloé Zhao, Eva Victor, and others aren’t far behind. Josh Safdie should take pride in making a film that’s so unlike anything audiences would actually ask for. Nobody in their right mind would ask for a movie like Marty Supreme, and that’s why it works. Josh Safdie is not interested in holding your hand and making you feel comfortable; he’s interested in taking you on the ride of a lifetime. Thanks to Safdie’s direction, the thrilling cinematography, the bonkers screenplay, Daniel Lopatin’s unique score, and larger-than-life performances from Timothée Chalant and Odessa A’zion, Marty Supreme is a thrill from start to finish. For anyone who feels the need to share the age-old uninformed take that “There are no original movies anymore!”, give this a watch when you can.
Marty Supreme is fast-paced, anxiety-inducing, surreal, uncomfortable, slimy, debaucherous, thought-provoking, shocking, confounding, frustrating, and grandiose. And because of all that, it’s a masterpiece.
Rating: 10/10
Marty Supreme is now playing in theaters. Rated R
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