When Hollywood turns to biographical films or fictional dramas about criminals or con artists, it is rarely because these people are admirable or because filmmakers want audiences to imitate them. Rather, it is because such lives often contain something fascinating and captivating -- qualities that make for compelling storytelling.
Directed by Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme is by far one of the strongest contenders for the Oscars this year.
The film stars Timothée Chalamet as an expert ping-pong player who also happens to be a highly skilled hustler, actor, liar and, in many ways, a deeply unpleasant person. He is a young man with a dream that no one around him respects, yet he is willing to go to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.
The way this film is presented -- particularly its intense, relentless pace -- makes Marty Supreme easy to compare to another A24 production, Uncut Gems starring Adam Sandler (2019). Both films feature extremely fast-moving narratives filled with moments that are embarrassing, cringeworthy and occasionally very funny.
Each movie places its characters in situations where they are pushed to do questionable or outright terrible things in pursuit of some dream, object, or opportunity. The characters in both films are also masters of persuasion. Sometimes they are literally selling things; other times they are selling an idea, a chance, or simply a lie.
Within minutes of the film's opening, we are introduced to Marty Mauser (Chalamet). He immediately begins talking about his abilities -- how talented he is, how he will become the greatest in the world, and how nothing will stand in his way. The film wastes no time establishing just how obsessed he is with the idea of his own greatness. Throughout the story, Marty is repeatedly presented with opportunities to do the right thing. Yet he almost always chooses the morally wrong path if he believes it will push him faster and closer to his ultimate goal of becoming the greatest table-tennis player in the world. His ambition is so overwhelming that every decision becomes another step towards that singular dream.
A movie can often get away with an unlikeable protagonist if there is something fascinating about that character. Charming narcissists, in particular, often share a strange quality: they possess a magnetic energy that pulls people towards them.
Even when those around them know they are being deceived or manipulated, they still allow themselves to be drawn in.
Marty functions in much the same way. He behaves almost like a parasite -- something that latches on and refuses to let go. In some ways, he feels like super glue.
There are other films that use a similar type of character. In Catch Me If You Can (2002) and Nightcrawler (2014), audiences follow protagonists who are technically unpleasant or morally questionable people. Yet something about them remains fascinating. You keep watching because you want to see what they will do next and how far they will go.
Marty has that same quality. His dream is so enormous and his ambition so outsized that you cannot help but keep watching until the end, just to see whether he can actually pull it off.
The film repeatedly places him in situations where he manages to succeed -- if only briefly, before everything suddenly collapses again. This pattern occurs over and over as he continues playing with fire. In these moments, Safdie's direction becomes particularly impressive.
The script, written by Safdie and Ronald Bronstein, is remarkably effective at creating sequences that feel chaotic and unpredictable.
Many scenes barely feel scripted at all. Characters are constantly shouting and interrupting each other. Dialogue overlaps. Conversations spiral into arguments. The result is a barrage of noise and tension that feels intentionally designed to overwhelm the audience. The technique is very similar to the style used in Uncut Gems, where the constant pressure and anxiety become part of the viewing experience.
Considering that Marty Supreme runs for nearly two-and-a-half hours, maintaining that level of anxiety could easily become exhausting. Yet the film is crafted and performed so well that I found myself unable to look away.
To be honest, I am personally not much of a fan of Chalamet's public persona. However, I also cannot deny how talented he is as an actor. He is very much a chameleon performer. In this film, he completely disappears into the role. I felt as though I was watching Marty Mauser himself rather than an actor playing him.
Watching Marty lie, bluff and manipulate his way through daily life reminded me of how Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Frank Abagnale Jr in Catch Me If You Can. Both performances capture the strange mix of charm, desperation, and opportunism that defines characters who survive primarily through deception.
The ping-pong sequences in the film are equally impressive. The matches are thrilling, both in how they are shot and in how authentic they appear. It is clear that Chalamet performs many of the moves himself, and he does so convincingly. The opponents he faces are also compelling, making these scenes feel genuinely competitive rather than staged.
Interestingly, the film makes no real attempt to explain Marty's backstory or how he became so skilled at table tennis. At one point, reporters ask him directly about his past, and he simply invents a story on the spot. The film never clarifies whether any of it is true. Instead, the focus remains entirely on his ambition and the lengths he will go to in order to fulfil it.
In fact, many of the other characters in the film are not necessarily better people than Marty himself. Kay Stone, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, is a wealthy retired actress and socialite who is just as capable of manipulation when it suits her. Rachel, portrayed by Odessa A'zion, is a married woman willing to deceive and betray others simply to stay close to the man she loves.
In many ways, everyone in this story is pretending. They are all trying to project an image of success, confidence, or control. In a sense, they are all acting, playing roles designed to help them achieve their goals.
This idea becomes one of the film's underlying themes. Marty himself may be the most extreme example, constantly lying, cheating and hurting people in order to construct the version of himself he wants the world to see.
While the ending of the film left me slightly disappointed -- particularly because of the sudden and somewhat illogical shift in certain characters' personalities -- I cannot deny that Marty Supreme is a movie that should not be missed. It is a live-wire experience that is extremely difficult to look away from. Strong performances, striking visuals, and moments of pointed social commentary all help carry the film.