According to IGN, Timothée Chalamet delivers what might be the best performance of his career in the new A24 film Marty Supreme. The movie is a table tennis sports film directed by Josh Safdie, one half of the Safdie Brothers duo behind Uncut Gems and Good Time. The review highlights the film’s textbook Safdie chaotic storytelling and standout supporting roles from Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler, the Creator, and Shark Tank‘s Kevin O’Leary. Critic Michael Calabro poses whether the film is an early Best Picture contender and the best A24 movie of the year, concluding with a definitive “Yeah, it’s that good.” The review serves as a major endorsement for the film’s quality and awards potential.
Safdie Chaos Meets A24 Prestige
Here’s the thing: this combination is a match made in heaven for a certain kind of movie fan. A24 has built its brand on curated, often tense, and artistically bold cinema. The Safdie Brothers’ filmography is basically a masterclass in sustained, nerve-shredding anxiety. So a Josh Safdie film under the A24 banner isn’t a surprise; it’s a logical next step. But the twist is the subject matter: table tennis. It’s genius, really. You take the high-stakes, sweat-drenched intensity of a Safdie movie and apply it to the rapid-fire, claustrophobic world of competitive ping-pong. That’s a premise that shouldn’t work, but according to IGN, it absolutely does. It suggests Safdie can transplant his signature panic-attack filmmaking out of the diamond districts and gambling dens and into a seemingly mundane sport, with spectacular results.
Chalamet’s Career Pivot
This is the big takeaway. Timothée Chalamet is a phenomenal actor, but his roles have often lived in a space of poetic melancholy or youthful rebellion—Call Me By Your Name, Dune, Wonka. A “textbook Safdie chaotic” story is a whole different beast. It demands a raw, physical, possibly unhinged performance. For IGN to call this his best work suggests a transformation. He’s not just the sensitive lead; he’s in the pit, fighting for his life point by point, probably screaming and covered in sweat. This could be the role that violently shoves him into a new category of actor, proving he can carry not just arthouse dramas and blockbusters, but also gritty, pulse-pounding thrillers. That’s huge for his career trajectory.
The Curious Casting Coup
Let’s talk about that supporting cast. Gwyneth Paltrow is an interesting get, but Tyler, the Creator and Kevin O’Leary? That’s where you see the Safdie touch. They have a history of pulling incredible, authentic performances from non-traditional actors (see: Kevin Garnett in Uncut Gems). Casting Mr. Wonderful isn’t a gimmick; it’s a calculated risk for a specific kind of abrasive, real-world energy. And Tyler, the Creator has a chaotic creative energy that feels perfectly suited to this world. This isn’t just star-chasing. It feels like deliberate, eccentric world-building. It makes the film feel less like a Hollywood product and more like a slice of a bizarre, hyper-competitive reality. That authenticity is a key ingredient in the Safdie formula, and it seems to be fully intact here.
Awards Buzz and What It Means
IGN is already floating the Best Picture question. That’s significant. A24 is no stranger to awards, but a sports film from a director known for anxiety-inducing crime thrillers isn’t your typical Oscar bait. But maybe that’s the point. If Marty Supreme lands, it could signal a shift. It blends genre (sports film) with a very distinct, auteur-driven style. Its success, both critical and potentially with awards bodies, would empower more directors to take big swings with unconventional material. For audiences, it promises something we desperately need: a truly original, heart-pounding cinematic experience that doesn’t fit neatly into a box. Basically, if this review is right, we’re in for a treat.
