For Timothée Chalamet, the quest for artistic excellence is not a vague ambition but a driving force. Now, with the release of his new film 'Marty Supreme,' the actor's high-stakes gamble on an original, big-budget project might just be the vehicle that propels him to the cinematic greatness he so openly seeks.
The Pursuit of a Defining Performance
Since his star-making turn in 2017's 'Call Me By Your Name,' Chalamet's trajectory has been one of relentless ascent. This path seemed to crystallise when, fresh from shooting 'Marty Supreme,' he accepted a Screen Actors Guild award for playing Bob Dylan in 'A Complete Unknown' and declared he was 'in pursuit of greatness.' Yet, it is in Josh Safdie's hyperkinetic 1950s New York tale where that pursuit finds perhaps its most potent expression.
In 'Marty Supreme,' Chalamet portrays Marty Mauser, a Jewish shoe store clerk with a singular dream: to become the world's best table tennis pro. Loosely based on real-life player Marty Reisman, the character is a blur of desperate schemes and grandiose swagger—a quintessential American hustler. For Chalamet, now 30, the role demanded tapping into a raw, youthful audacity. 'Josh wanted me to tap into a period of my life when my audacity was all I had,' the actor revealed, noting he saw himself in Marty's singular drive from age 14.
A $70 Million Bet on Original Storytelling
The film represents a significant commercial test. Distributed by A24, 'Marty Supreme' carries a budget of approximately $70 million, making it one of the indie studio's most expensive ventures ever. In a holiday season often dominated by franchises, it is a wholly original, R-rated movie banking on star power and directorial vision.
Early signs are promising. A limited opening in just six cinemas resulted in 92 sellouts and set per-screen records, suggesting a hungry audience for original storytelling. To build hype, Chalamet engaged in Marty-esque promotional stunts, including an 18-minute pseudo-Zoom call about marketing, which culminated in a real orange blitz emblazoned with 'Dream Big' flying over Los Angeles.
For director Josh Safdie, the project is intensely personal. A former aspiring table tennis pro himself, he filled his office with paddles and memorabilia, channelling the hustler mentality he and his brother Benny honed making gritty New York indies like 'Uncut Gems.' 'You'll do whatever it takes,' Safdie said of the all-in commitment required, recalling downing half a dozen whiskies in a meeting to secure financing despite being a non-drinker.
Roots in a Grittier New York Film Tradition
'Marty Supreme' consciously situates itself within a proud lineage of New York filmmaking. Safdie sought to channel the influence of classics like 'The French Connection' and even cast 74-year-old Bronx filmmaker Abel Ferrara. The production design was handled by legendary figure Jack Fisk, bridging generations of cinematic craft.
For Chalamet, a native of Hell's Kitchen, making a film that could become a New York classic is a point of profound pride. Reflecting on a quiet moment on a West Side pier before the premiere, he noted playing soccer there as a child. 'Just to be here, back where I'm from. What a dream,' he said, adding that his artistry has grown as a 'humble fact of foundation.'
His recent declarations, echoing the film's themes of relentless ambition, have led some to wonder if he's still in character. When asked if his pronouncements are sincere or a form of 'Method marketing,' Chalamet paused, then smiled. 'It's both.'
With the film now on wide release, the industry watches to see if this passionate, personal project will deliver Chalamet the ultimate recognition: his first Academy Award. A year after coming close, 'Marty Supreme' may prove that his high dive from the highest board was worth the risk.
