By Sofia Rudus ’26
Have you ever had a dream to be the best ping pong player? Maybe in the summertime or when playing with friends, ping pong seems like a fun activity, but not for everyone. For some, it is life or death as seen in the new movie “Marty Supreme.” This action-packed film was the most interesting watch I have had in a while, as it twists and turns through the life of Marty Mauser as he tries to reach his dreams of being the world champion in table tennis. Through the dynamic characters, fast-paced events, and captivating cinematography, “Marty Supreme” left an impact on viewers and even the people creating the film. There was a lot put into this film to make it so interesting and a decade of work behind it that made it so baller.
“Marty Supreme” came out on Dec. 25, 2025, spreading the message of its release with the slogan, “Marty Supreme Christmas Day.” This film has a run time of two and a half hours with each scene showing the obstacles and wins main character Mauser, played by Timothee Chalamet, has while trying to become the world’s greatest table tennis player. This film was directed by Josh Safdie, who is known for movies like “Uncut Gems” and “Good Time.” His creative direction was praised by many including Jack Fisk, a famous American production designer and director. He worked closely with a core group of people that did a phenomenal job in their respective areas. Jennifer Venditti, the casting director, chose people who were more than just actors, but reflected their character in the film. Gwenyth Paltrow’s character in the film was a famous yet fading movie star, which can describe her today. Kevin O’Leary, a Canadian businessman famous from the TV show, “Shark Tank,” played a cutthroat, wealthy businessman. Having prior knowledge of who these characters are played by makes them more convincing and strong for viewers.
I first heard about “Marty Supreme” from two of my friends. The title intrigued me, yet after googling it, I was less interested. Another sports movie, I thought, a genre that is not my first choice to watch. However, after seeing how popular it was becoming and hearing how much others enjoyed it, I was determined to watch it. “Marty Supreme” did not disappoint, and had me hooked the whole time. This film is more than just table tennis, but has symbolism and depth behind the shocking scenes. Safdie derived his inspiration from a book he was given by his wife about table tennis. In the book, it described people who were outsiders and had a dream that no one respected, so they worked hard every day so they would not be seen as a failure. He felt this way making the film. Many people did not support his idea, so he had to make it perfect.
The fast pace of this film combined with many unpredictable events further reflects Mauser. The game of table tennis is very back and forth, quick. Similarly, in the film, we never knew how far Mauser’s goals would take him. Nedaat Masiat, a student at DHS, further speaks about this quickness. “I really liked ‘Marty Supreme.’ It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Every character was extremely flawed. Their complexities made the movie more relatable and the characters feel more human-like,” Nedaat Masiat ‘26 says.
I have watched similar movies such as “Whiplash” and “Black Swan” that show how someone can become so obsessed with reaching their dreams that they destroy everything else in their lives. “Marty Supreme” shows this trope, but in a more light-hearted way. Due to Mauser’s personality, that allows him to evade true consequences, not everything is destroyed in his life and instead he is given a new path by the end. This can be seen differently; inspiring or unfair. However, this film is about hustling and does not care if life is fair.
Why is the film called Marty Supreme? Ronald Bronstein, who co-wrote this film with Safdie, says how it is a supreme version of Mauser. “The irony is, the fate where he lands was preordained for him from the beginning, except now it means so much more to him because he went and followed his dream,” Bronstein says. Bronstein also adds that “Ping pong almost sounds like it was designed to humiliate somebody that was really passionate for it.” Good thing this film is about table tennis!
“Marty Supreme” was loved and hated by many, and is a film that you have to see for yourself. A film where the less you know, beforehand, the better. So start the new year off right, and go watch “Marty Supreme Christmas Day!”
The Raider Press 