That was not at all what I expected.

Marty Mauser is an excellent table tennis player, and he certainly knows it. But when his uncle refuses to pay for his flight to Japan for a tournament, he takes matters into his own volatile hands. A sequence of escalating chaos, formed by Marty’s own hubris, threatens to destroy his dream. Can he make it?

Directed by Josh Safdie (Good Time, Uncut Gems) and starring Timothée Chalamet (Dune) Gwyneth Paltrow (Marvel Avengers movies) Odessa A’zion (2022’s Hellraiser) and Kevin O’Leary, A24’s Marty Supreme is not a biopic. The film’s screenplay is only loosely adapting from the life of Marty Reisman, during his fame as a table tennis pro in the 1950s. Marty Mauser is a fictional character, at the end of the day. As a result, the film is a non-stop thrill ride of absurd scenarios.

The film starts with Mauser (Chalamet) working in a shoe shop owned by his uncle. His future appears like a black hole when he is offered the position of manager. His horror is further exemplified when money secured for a trip to Japan is denied to him. Feeling betrayed, Marty steals the money at gun point and flees the country to take part in the table tennis tournament. Does he succeed? Would his massive ego allow him to fail if he did? In the mind of Marty Mauser, nothing is impossible.

I feel like there is something to be said when a film cannot be easily marketed. It speaks to a unique movie that is getting a wide release. Marty Supreme‘s trailer is a bit misleading. “Dream Big” it’s tagline says. Released in January, it has the hallmarks of a biographical movie. Following a sports theme, with a strong central character, it suggests some degree of reality. Perhaps with two oddball friends finding their way into a competitive sports scene. But this film is surprisingly none of these things. Having a title sequence to the backdrop of sperm fertilizing an egg, should set the tone for anyone watching.

Indeed, Marty Supreme is a cascade of escalating high jinks, threat, adultery, and even slap-stick comedy for good measure. All driven, eventually, to a ping-pong tournament.

Marty Mauser is not a nice character. Genuinely, he condescends, he cheats, he spins elaborate hyperbole constantly. Not a scene goes by where his over-extended confidence doesn’t make his mouth run like a malfunctioning propaganda machine. Throughout the film, we see the trail of emotional devastation left behind in his wake.
But unlike, say, 2025’s The Smashing Machine (which I said had a very unlikeable central character) Marty is unlikeable, but is clearly very talented. His confidence isn’t questionable, and even his attitude isn’t questionable; he really is that good and probably deserves what he is owed. It is how he goes about it that is so absurdly awful.

The supporting cast is very good when pushed against this whirlwind of bloated hubris. Paltrow, A’zion, and O’Leary (among others) have either the wide-eyed bewilderment or bullshit-piercing scepticism required. Even if they do succumb to his intense confidence at near-fatal opportunities.

This self-aggrandizing hubris leads to some spectacular scenes. The film playing through some interwoven vignettes, displaying the chain of events Mauser believes will grant him success. But a bit like Bryan Cranston’s father figure in Malcolm in the Middle trying to fix a lightbulb, one thing leads to another. I wouldn’t want to spoil any of it.

For having a runtime of two and a half hours, it felt surprisingly quick. Mostly benefitting from these moment-to-moment escapades and increasing desperation from the character. It might be said that this behaviour goes on too long; that Marty’s freedom from consequences goes on too long. Or simply, he is an awful person who shouldn’t have a chance at redemption. I can see arguments for these.

But overall, it was unlike many films I’ve seen. I enjoyed it a lot, and it’s pacing kept me completely invested throughout. Very solid movie.