Marty Supreme - Review

An Original Ball for An Original Guy.

Review written by Jack Aling

Marty Supreme is directed by Josh Safdie and written by Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein.

Set in the rough Lower East Side of New York in the 1950s, the film follows the exploits of Marty Mauser, a ping-pong champ hell-bent on conquering the world of table tennis. Loosely based on real-life champion Marty Reisman.

Marty Supreme hit me like a train.

Josh Safdie injects an ambitious energy that infects every frame. A straight sprint for 150 minutes, the constant drive for greatness and purpose is fuel, used like a carrot on a stick.

Like Marty, Timothée Chalamet puts his entire being into the role. A performance within a performance - his drive has no doubt secured his name in 2026's award season.

A film that leaves you vibrating as you leave the cinema. You can feel the grit in each scene, every needle drop hits, and there are no small parts. It's a real joy when even in the final days of December, a film can be released, surprise you, and end up being one of the best films of the year.

With obligation comes sacrifice. Dream big.

Our verdict: 5 out of 5 stars.

Read more of Jack's reviews at: letterboxd.com/TheJackAling