UPDATE: This story was updated at 4:40 pm EST on Friday, Jan 2, 2025.

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In February, Timothée Chalamet received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. During his acceptance speech, Chalamet said that he’s “in pursuit of greatness,” citing actors and legendary athletes as inspirations.

In director Josh Safdie’s latest film, “Marty Supreme,” Chalamet’s role as the titular character — a table tennis player who’s not hungry, but starving to be the greatest — is fittingly his best performance yet.

In previous films like “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems,” Josh usually works with his younger brother, Benny Safdie. However, Josh tackled “Marty Supreme” alone. Still, the signature, fast-paced, anxious style of the Safdie brothers is ever-present. Combined with Chalamet’s performance, an incredible supporting cast and a complementary soundtrack, “Marty Supreme” is the best film of 2025.

Set in the early 1950s, the opening scene shows Marty Mauser (Chalamet) — a 23-year-old New York City shoe salesman and aspiring table tennis great — having a sexual fling with his married childhood friend, Rachel Mizler (Odessa A’zion). Later, it’s revealed she’s pregnant, but Marty denies that it’s his child.

In London, an overconfident Marty is humbled in the British Open finals by Koto Endo (Koto Kawaguchi), a Japanese player. Wealthy businessman Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary) asks Marty to rematch Endo in Tokyo, but Marty refuses because the match would be staged for publicity, with Marty expected to lose.

Marty learns that he’s been banned from the World Table Tennis Championships — unless he pays a $1,500 fine — due to discourteous behavior during the British Open. Marty earns enough money for the fine, but with no mode of transport to reach Tokyo, Marty pleads with Milton to give him another chance at the staged match with Endo, and Milton reluctantly agrees.

A few scenes into “Marty Supreme,” I realized I was witnessing greatness — specifically, Chalamet’s generational performance. Like Babe Ruth, Chalamet called his shot, and he knocked it out of the park.

Marty — who’s loosely based on champion-level table tennis player Marty Reisman — is an eccentric character with a larger-than-life personality, and Chalamet takes full advantage. During thrilling table tennis matches, a sweaty Chalamet is hotheaded and intense; in flirtatious encounters, he’s quick-witted and oozes charisma.

Days after seeing “Marty Supreme,” I still can’t stop thinking about this gargantuan performance and the way Chalamet pulled out all the stops to make it authentic.

He practiced table tennis with a coach for six years and even had a pingpong table with him on set while filming “Wonka” and “Dune: Part Two.” Because Marty sported glasses, Josh had Chalamet wear disorienting contact lenses to blur his vision, making real prescription glasses necessary. Hilariously, Chalamet said he also watched videos of giraffes to help capture his character’s “elongated posture.”

Chalamet transformed himself into Marty, and it seems like he channeled his own experiences. Chalamet told Jimmy Fallon he relates to Marty making sacrifices in pursuit of his dreams. Despite being proud of many projects, he said “Marty Supreme” is the one he’s proudest of — and I believe this role is the one Chalamet was born to play.

Casting director Jennifer Venditti did a masterful job filling the other roles too. Outside of Chalamet, O’Leary — in his acting debut — delivered the best performance. His character, Milton, is an unapologetic tycoon in the pen and ink business, so O’Leary, venture capitalist and star of “Shark Tank,” was the perfect fit.

Milton’s wife, Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow), is a star Hollywood actress past her heyday. Kay has an affair with Marty, which advances the plot by ironically giving him opportunities to speak with Milton.

Paltrow was an exceptional choice. Paltrow’s current filmography doesn’t compare to her stardom in the 90s, making her casting feel fated. Her portrayal of Kay is spot on — regal yet declining.

Tyler Okonma, aka rapper Tyler, the Creator, as Wally was such a treat. His first major acting role is exactly what you’d expect from Tyler: energetic, eccentric and hilarious. He brings a much-needed lightheartedness to the film, contrasting Marty’s obsessive nature. Still, Wally and Marty share some insane scenes, like a bathtub falling through a hotel floor and a gas station exploding, showcasing their wacky friendship and fantastic on-screen chemistry.

Off the screen, phenomenal marketing drew attention to the film. A24 posted an 18-minute, satirical Zoom call in November, where Chalamet pitched outlandish ideas — like painting the Statue of Liberty orange — and realistic ideas that panned out, like an orange blimp, Wheaties boxes and highly sought after “Marty Supreme” jackets.

Despite the outstanding cast and brilliant marketing, what makes “Marty Supreme” the best movie of the year is its controversial ending.

While in Tokyo, Marty is told he can’t compete in the championship because his fine was overdue. He still plays the staged match against Endo but reveals to the crowd that his loss was predetermined, demanding a real rematch which Endo agrees to.

In a heart-pounding match accompanied by Daniel Lopatin’s exhilarating electronic score, Marty barely squeaks past Endo and collapses on the floor in exhaustion, avenging his loss in the British Open finals. Marty is on the brink of tears, but none stream down his face.

Then, a slight, disappointed look dons his face, and the scene is drowned out by a phone call — Marty checking on Rachel, who went into labor while he was in Tokyo.

Upon returning to the U.S., he visits Rachel in a maternity ward, and when he’s asked to sign in, he willingly calls himself the father. Marty is overcome with emotion when he sees their child in the nursery.

With tears running down his cheeks, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears plays; the opening lyrics are “Welcome to your life / There’s no turning back.” It’s a noticeable difference from “Forever Young” by Alphaville, which plays during Marty and Rachel’s first interaction in the film, signifying Marty’s newfound maturity.

The ending has faced backlash for being safe and inauthentic due to Marty’s questionable morality and lack of constructive reflection throughout the story. But, it’s one of the greatest finales I’ve ever seen; Marty overcomes his obsession of being the best and realizes success can be measured outside of winning.

Both casual moviegoers and cinephiles can find enjoyment in “Marty Supreme.” The film strongly encourages following one’s dreams with its catchphrase, “Dream Big,” but poignantly reminds viewers about the dangers of obsession and its repercussions.

Marty didn’t have a chance to raise the world championship trophy, but I think Chalamet will hoist his first Oscar this March at the Academy Awards.

Published on January 2, 2026 at 3:10 pm
Contact Joel: jdpelach@syr.edu