Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet) might be one of the most unlikeable leading characters in recent memory.
Marty Supreme pulls partial inspiration from real-life table tennis hustler Marty Reisman — a man who, by his own account, saw himself as a gambler/athlete. The story is set in 1952 New York City. Marty works as a shoe salesman in his uncle’s shop, all while obsessively chasing the idea of becoming the greatest table tennis player in the world. locked into this belief that he’s destined for something bigger. But there’s something deeply off about him.
Marty operates under the assumption that cockiness is his superpower — that sheer confidence alone can bend reality in his favor. He walks through life convinced that no one respects him, and becomes obsessed with forcing that respect out of the world, no matter the cost. He uses people. Burns bridges. Lies. Manipulates. One bad decision leads to another, then another. Schemes pile on top of schemes. Chaos follows him everywhere. There’s very little awareness, and even less accountability for how his actions impact the people around him. You want to root for Marty, but it feels difficult.
The supporting cast is strong across the board. Odessa A’zion and Gwyneth Paltrow are both compelling as Marty’s romantic entanglements — relationships that feel more transactional than emotional. Fran Drescher and Sandra Bernhard are fun to see, though both are underutilized. Acclaimed independent film director, Abel Ferrara shows up as a heavy and absolutely owns it. He brings a quiet but dangerous presence to this role.
Then there is Kevin O’Leary. The presence of this multi-billionaire, right-wing hack is completely unnecessary. I get what writer/director Josh Safdie was going for by pulling in that Shark Tank arrogant persona, and dropping it into this world. But there are plenty of actors who could’ve captured that same energy without it feeling like stunt casting. Anyhow, the rest of the cast choices are great.
Marty Supreme is a sharp, chaotic, and well-crafted film. The Safdie-style chaos is all here. The tension never really lets up. If you’re into the Safdie-style rhythm of frantic, anxiety-driven pacing from Good Time and Uncut Gems, then this will feel familiar. And at the center of it all is a character you don’t like…but can’t stop watching.
MARTY SUPREME (2025).
FOUR OUT OF FIVE POPCORN BAGS🍿🍿🍿🍿
Rod Rioja 