Marty Supreme and the Art of Relentless Ambition

A late addition to 2025’s year of cinema, Marty Supreme follows the story of Marty Mauser, a shoe salesman who self-proclaims himself as the world’s greatest table tennis player. Through the two-and-a-half-hour runtime we follow the young hustler on his journey of greed, tragedy and the search for his ultimate purpose. Director Josh Safdie and star Timothée Chalamet have created an energised odyssey which ends up being one of the best films of the year.

Josh Safdie has carefully curated his image as a director. Through his work with his brother, Benny Safdie, the pair created films that held a never-ceasing anxious energy. Safdie’s approach sits within a tradition of American independent filmmaking that prizes intensity and character over comfort, a lineage well documented across the British Film Institute’s film and television archive. Marty Supreme marks Josh Safdie’s first solo effort since the creative partnership ended with his brother.

However, the anxiety and adrenaline that fuelled their films remain an integral part of what makes Marty Supreme work. Josh Safdie, alongside fellow screenwriter Ronald Bronstein, has nurtured a thematically rich and narratively striking film that deals with purpose, youth and legacy, and on a more political note, the fragility and greed of capitalism. Safdie’s direction is relentless. He creates a world where the lives of 1950s America take on the new-age paranoia of modern life. The people talk and they talk quickly, the camera moves and it does not give you a moment to breathe, the story levels up further and further until it all comes crashing down. In another film, the slightly wandering focus of the shots and the pace at which dialogue is delivered would be a major detractor, but for Marty Supreme it only adds to what makes the film so compelling.

Speaking of greatness, Timothée Chalamet gives what may be the performance of the year as Marty Mauser. Chalamet has been working for several years to establish himself as the real deal, but what he shows in Marty Supreme leaves little room for debate. Marty will not be everybody’s cup of tea. He is erratic, proudly selfish and often outright rude to almost everyone around him, yet it is impossible to look away. If you can get on his wavelength, Marty Mauser becomes a tour de force of charm, a character the audience is compelled to follow in his pursuit of greatness. Chalamet pays little heed to the line between unlikability and charm, presenting Marty Mauser simply as who he is, leaving it to the audience to decide whether they can live with him. There are moments when you will squirm at Marty’s poor decision-making, moments when you will feel his pain, and moments when you will find yourself cheering him on in pursuit of his self-inflated greatness.

Alongside Chalamet’s electric performance is an array of supporting characters drawn into Marty’s endless hustling. Safdie has employed unconventional casting choices in the past. One such example is Adam Sandler playing against type as the egotistical protagonist of Uncut Gems, and Marty Supreme continues this approach. The supporting cast includes musician Tyler, The Creator, entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary and fellow filmmaker Abel Ferrara. The film assembles an eccentric group of performers, creating a world of distinctive faces and perspectives that shape how each performance lands. Standout turns include Kevin O’Leary, who effectively personifies corporate greed, as well as Gwyneth Paltrow and Odessa A’zion, who both serve as counterbalances to the brashness of Chalamet’s Marty.

Beyond the performances, Marty Supreme is also a showcase of what filmmaking can still achieve in the modern age. The cinematography and production design work in harmony to create a sense of clutter and chaos, heightened by a pulsating score, alongside several well-chosen needle drops, that move in rhythm with the film’s momentum.

Overall, Marty Supreme is not only an entertaining ride across its 150-minute runtime, but also a clear encapsulation of what makes cinema special. The visible craftsmanship, from the performances to the direction, production design and everything in between, comes together seamlessly to create a film worthy of Marty Mauser’s so-called “greatness”.

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