Marty Supreme Review: An unconventionally brilliant sports film
Even with the monumental success of the Safdie Brothers in the past, I was a tad skeptical about this ping-pong film. Not because there's anything wrong with ping-pong, I enjoy the game as much as the next person, but I didn't really think I'd enjoy 150 minutes straight of Timothée Chalamet-led, pretentious ping-pong. Yet, after seeing every single critic friend of mine rate the film in their top 5 of the year, if not higher, I instantly knew that Safdie's vision had to be a lot more than 150 straight minutes of tedious table tennis. And, after watching the film, it was a lot more than that, and then some. In this review, I, Brighton Nelson of the Reel Ranker, will tackle the good, the bad, and the supreme of Marty Supreme. Thanks for joining me for today's review, and let's kick this thing off.
In terms of noteworthy criticisms of this film, only one really comes to mind: its lack of punishment. While a lot of Marty's associates are equally bad people as him, and they also needed to be brought to justice, it feels like he got an unearned happy ending in a way, even with how much he loses. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't say the ending needs to be changed, though I do think it would've been more interesting if it leaned more into some elements of him overcoming his past through more profound, just ways. I mostly bring this up because I've seen many state that they wished he'd gotten more of what was coming to him, but I didn't find it a major problem with the film, just a missed opportunity to go even deeper.
Outside of that minor gripe and perhaps a few other things I can't remember, this film perfectly executed all of its lofty ideas to a T! The first thing that stood out to me the most about this film is its extraordinary casting. The casting in this film feels distinct from that of other films. Obviously, there are heavy-hitting, well-known stars like Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow, but it's the supporting cast that is so intriguing about the film. The film includes a voice cameo from Robert Pattinson for some reason, one of the judges from Shark Tank, and 140 previous non-actors! Yet, these odd choices just made the film that much better. Jennifer Venditti and Josh Safdie did an incredible job making intentional, atypical choices that paid off supremely. Sinners may have had a greatly deserving cast, but my vote for the newly debuted casting category was definitely Marty Supreme's.
The casting obviously would only have paid off if the performances were good. Needless to say, the performances here were phenomenal! Amidst a plethora of great performances, this stands out as Chalamet's best, and another category I'd almost be sad that Marty Supreme didn't win, if it weren't for Ethan Hawke giving one of the best performances in all of cinema in Blue Moon. Though, I'm still content with Michael B. Jordan's win since he played two rather distinct characters, and his Oscar speech was one of my favorites of all time. Regardless of the fact he didn't win any awards, Chalamet delivers an all-timer performance, executing the character of Marty so well in all of his quirky charm. There's not much to say that won't just be me beating a dead horse, but I'll try my best.
Marty Mauser is a character that you root for yet simultaneously know that he seriously needs to face the consequences of his actions. Chalamet plays him in a way that makes the character pop and feel lovable in a way not many characters are when they are this troubled and, honestly, stupid. Odessa A'zion did an awesome job playing the previously previous lover of Marty, with her story being so tragic and difficult, too. She's an awesome partner-in-crime to Marty's tomfoolery and hijinks, and, while more subdued, she's just as all over the place as him. No idea how someone like her lost to anybody but Amy Madigan for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, but, then again, Madigan was the only nominee that even would be a performance I'd choose for the category. The other four nominees were solid, don't get me wrong, but not best-of-the-year material for me. Gwyneth Paltrow (who I'd also nominate over the other actresses, honestly) and Kevin O'Leary were also major standouts for me, and they both played their roles as rich people convincingly in the film. Marty and Kay's relationship was so interesting and completely off-putting, yet you can't help but feel for Kay and Rachel, whose husbands are horrible, even compared to the incredibly problematic Marty Mauser. O'Leary simply knows how to play a grating a-hole, and it's just so fun to see him act like this in this type of film.
And the plot of this film? It's absolute madness in the best way imaginable. Marty's story may generally revolve around his desire to be the best at ping-pong, but it's so much more than that. This is truly a story about a man who descends into madness due to his many baffling actions, and then his constant meddling to fix those actions that simply makes everything far worse. While the story's ending may have been too happy for some, I liked that he lost what he needed to for the purpose of trying to learn the lessons he needs to for those dearest to him. While the story isn't a typical narrative, and feels more like a more Scorsese-esque crime character piece thriller with a sports font, it's that in the best way possible. Its plot stays cohesive, even through its more moment-to-moment storytelling, because it keeps a consistent theming and has a strong ability to keep the audience invested in the buffoonery happening on screen.
The film also looks fantastic and has an incredibly immersive world through its set design and cinematography. The film's style is impeccable and transports you to a time and place magnificently, and it feels nothing like a modern story: something some films struggle to do effectively (I'm looking at you, Wonder Woman 1984). And, one of my favorite aspects of this film (which is something I don't talk about much with film because I'm least proficient in understanding it) is the editing. I particularly love shots like the edit from the embryo to the ping-pong ball: it's such a smooth transition that looks awesome while also foreshadowing a man who chases greatness from the day he was born or, looking at it from a more bleak perspective, implying that his obsession with the sport overcame his necessity to raise his baby. Either way, it is the number of intentional edits and thematic connective tissue like this that the film provides that are glowing examples of this film's attention to detail throughout its runtime.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 90%
Letter Score: S
Star Ranking: 4.5 out of 5
Marty Supreme completely innovates on the sports film genre, providing something so different from the usual fare that it's hard for me to even associate this film with the sport it follows when all the best elements of the film have little to do with ping-pong—which is saying something, because the ping-pong matches in this film are tense as can be. This is one of 2025's best films, blending phenomenal performances with a special style and a gnarly, nail-biting narrative about humanity and the way passion consumes us.
Interested in checking out my reviews for some of the other 98th Academy Awards season nominees? Click the link below!
Brighton Nelson
