Timothée Chalamet, fresh off an Oscar loss for A Complete Unknown, appears to have doubled down on intensive preparation for his next role in Marty Supreme. The film, directed by Josh Safdie and co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow, sees Chalamet playing a professional ping-pong player. Cinematographer Darius Khondji told Variety that Chalamet spent “months and months” learning the sport, adding that “you need to have a core” for such a physical role.
Chalamet’s method mirrors his approach to playing Bob Dylan, which involved five years of singing and guitar lessons and earned him a best actor nomination at this year’s Oscars. However, he lost to Adrien Brody, raising questions about whether such extreme immersion guarantees awards success. The article notes that Jeremy Strong, known for intense preparation, lost the supporting actor Oscar to Kieran Culkin, who played a version of himself.
Despite the effort, critics suggest Chalamet might be missing the point. While Marty Supreme is shaping up to be a standout—featuring non-actors including world-class ping-pong players—the actor is advised to take a lighter role to preserve his well-being. “Take a couple of easy jobs and coast on your charisma,” the piece concludes, noting that vanity projects are not always rewarded.
