Timothée Chalamet has transformed from the perennial boy-next-door into the undisputed frontrunner for next year's Best Actor Oscar, according to bookmakers. His blistering performance as the egomaniacal ping-pong prodigy Marty Mauser in Josh Safdie's new film, Marty Supreme, is being hailed as a career-defining moment for the 29-year-old star.
From Sensitive Youth to Hustling Anti-Hero
The film, set for release in UK cinemas from Boxing Day, opens with a provocative bang: a symbolic montage of sperm racing towards an egg. This sets the tone for the story of Marty, a scrawny, self-pitying shoe salesman in 1950s Manhattan who dreams of table tennis glory. Chalamet embodies this wheedling opportunist with a Brylcreemed quiff and a woeful moustache, rendering a character who is a thief and a liar somehow compelling and nuanced.
This role represents a significant departure for Chalamet. Since his star-making, Oscar-nominated turn as the sensitive Elio in Call Me By Your Name (2017), he has battled against a typecast of limpid youth. While roles in Lady Bird (2018) and Dune (2021) followed, it was his casting as Henry V in The King (2019) that notably strained credibility, highlighting the awkward phase many young actors face before convincing audiences of their adult maturity.
The Battle of the Former Boys-Next-Door
The Oscar race this season sets up a fascinating narrative. Chalamet's main competition, if bookies are correct, is his own mentor, Leonardo DiCaprio, nominated for his role in One Battle After Another (2025). This clash mirrors the film's plot, where Chalamet's volatile Marty faces the ice-cool Japanese champion Koto Endo (Koto Kawaguchi). It's a meta, showbiz twist that frames the Academy Awards as the final act of Safdie's underdog fable.
DiCaprio's career path—transitioning from 90s heartthrob to gritty adult roles in films like The Aviator (2004) and The Revenant (2015)—is seen as a reliable roadmap for Chalamet. The younger actor has heeded advice to avoid superhero films and has instead built a varied filmography through Wonka (2023), A Complete Unknown (2024), and now his most compelling adult performance to date.
A Watershed Moment for a New Masculinity
Chalamet, often labelled the frontman of the 'Noodle Boys'—a group of twiggy, androgynous actors—has finally shed the archetype's limitations. Historically, boy-next-door stars like Mickey Rooney or Montgomery Clift faced difficult transitions. Chalamet, representing a 21st-century masculinity, has used Marty Supreme to prove his resilience and depth.
"This is probably my best performance," Chalamet has said of the role. "This is really some top-level s***." The bravado echoes his character, but critics and awards pundits seem to agree. In a strong year for Best Actor, featuring Ethan Hawke in Blue Moon and Joel Edgerton in Train Dreams, Chalamet's work is considered the season's most explosive.
As he approaches his 30th birthday, Marty Supreme signifies that Timothée Chalamet has not just survived his adolescent career phase but has emerged stronger, ready to claim his place among Hollywood's leading men. The film, and the Oscar buzz it has generated, ensures his journey comes full circle with the bang it started with.
