Timothée Chalamet deserves the Oscar for his best-ever performance in the sensational Marty Supreme

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Timothée Chalamet didn’t win Best Actor at the Oscars earlier this year, with Adrien Brody taking home the award, even though Chalamet had won at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. However, next year, Chalamet could become the youngest actor ever to win an Oscar – and it might be thanks to a film about ping pong!

Though Marty Supreme draws some inspiration from the life of table tennis player Marty Reisman and begins like a typical sports story – with a heartbreaking loss – it’s far from a standard sports film. It’s not really about table tennis at all.

Though directed solely by Josh Safdie—his first film without his brother Benny since his 2008 debut—Marty Supreme feels very much in line with their previous work, like Uncut Gems and Good Times. It’s a relentlessly stressful and anxiety-filled 150-minute ride through New York City, and Timothée Chalamet delivers a captivating, standout performance that anchors the entire experience.

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To be honest, Marty Supreme immediately warns you things are going to get weird. After a brief intimate scene between Marty and his friend-turned-lover, Rachel (played by Odessa A’zion), the film features a bold title sequence that follows Marty’s sperm as it fertilizes Rachel’s egg – a clear nod to Look Who’s Talking. This then cleverly transitions into a ping pong ball with Marty’s name on it.

Okay, so my character, Marty, has the potential – seriously, his lineage is strong! – but he’s not winning yet. He acts like he’s already a champion, all swagger and confidence, but he needs the wins to back it up. After losing to this new player, Koto Endo – who, by the way, is a legit table tennis pro in real life – I’m even more driven to show everyone that table tennis is a real sport and that I, Marty, am a serious competitor. The only problem? I need to escape New York City to actually compete!

Timothée Chalamet’s talent was already evident in films like Bones and All, A Complete Unknown, and Call Me by Your Name, suggesting he was poised for stardom. Marty Supreme solidifies that impression, convincing any remaining doubters that he’s already a major star. His performance is captivating and impossible to ignore, making his character, Marty, surprisingly charming even when he does questionable things.

Timothée Chalamet didn’t just rely on his charm for this role; he truly dedicated himself to it. He’s been seriously learning to play table tennis since 2018, even setting up his own table wherever he goes – like on the set of Dune: Part Two in Budapest and during the Cannes Film Festival for The French Dispatch. That dedication really shines through in the exciting and realistic table tennis scenes in Marty Supreme.

While Timothée Chalamet is a strong contender for the Oscar, he’ll face tough competition from actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan. However, despite many good performances this year, none have been quite as remarkable or captivating as Chalamet’s.

Timothée Chalamet isn’t the only standout performer in Marty Supreme who could be up for awards. The film features remarkable performances from Kevin O’Leary and Tyler Okonma (also known as Tyler, the Creator), both making their movie debuts, and a strong return to fictional films for Gwyneth Paltrow after a six-year break. Overall, the cast is one of the best of the year.

The event might also be considered the year’s most unusual group, featuring Kevin O’Leary – famous from the TV show Shark Tank (the American version of Dragon’s Den) – alongside director Abel Ferrara, magician Penn Jillette (from Penn & Teller), and tightrope walker Philippe Petit, plus many other interesting people.

Odessa A’zion delivers the most compelling performance after Timothée Chalamet. Her character, Rachel, could easily have been portrayed as someone who needs rescuing, but A’zion brings depth and complexity to the role, making her just as flawed and interesting as the main character, Marty. She also provides the emotional core that makes the film’s surprisingly subdued ending so effective.

Everything in Marty Supreme is delightfully unpredictable. It’s refreshing to be genuinely surprised by each scene and not know where the story is headed, as it jumps between bizarre topics like dog scams, the Harlem Globetrotters, and even… spanking. The script, by Safdie and Ronald Bronstein, is packed with details, but somehow it all comes together seamlessly.

One of the strongest aspects of Marty Supreme is its incredibly detailed and realistic depiction of 1950s New York City. Even as the story becomes increasingly wild, the film feels genuine thanks to the immersive world created by director Safdie and his team, including production designer Jack Fisk. For two and a half hours, you’re completely drawn into this world, and it feels like you’ve experienced much more than that.

Just to be clear, Marty Supreme is a truly unique film. Timothée Chalamet gives an amazing performance, and the story will keep you guessing. However, don’t go in expecting a movie about ping pong!

Marty Supreme is released in US cinemas on 25 December and in UK cinemas on 26 December.

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2025-12-01 20:20