When Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner stepped out in matching tangerine leather outfits at the Hollywood premiere of Marty Supreme, it was more than a fashion moment. It was a statement, part of a press tour that has been described as turning 'movie marketing into performance art'. The actor even accessorised with a bedazzled table-tennis racquet case, a playful nod to the film's central sport.
Beyond the Ping-Pong Table: A Story of Obsession
The film, from indie powerhouse A24 and director Josh Safdie, delves into the 1950s American and international ping-pong scene. Loosely based on real-life table-tennis ace Marty Reisman, it follows a prideful player whose drive for success borders on narcissism, damaging those around him. Yet, for Safdie, the sport is merely the vessel.
"If someone tells me they want to be the greatest plumber on the planet, and they take pride in that, I can make that person's story interesting," Safdie told STM. "It doesn't matter what the person's doing. It's about the person themselves."
This character study has proven a triumph for Timothee Chalamet. This awards season, the 30-year-old has become the youngest to win Best Actor at both the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes, and is a hot favourite for an Oscar nomination.
The Collaborative Dream: Casting Chalamet and Persuading Paltrow
Safdie's collaboration with Chalamet began years before a script existed, after they met in New York in 2017. "He was still dreaming of being who he is today," Safdie recalled of the pre-Call Me By Your Name actor. "I was just inspired by his energy and his dreaming quality... when I told him about this character, he very much related to him."
To convey his vision, Safdie showed Chalamet a video of a table-tennis player set to Peter Gabriel, aiming to break the stuffiness of period filmmaking. "I wanted to tell a contemporary film that took place in 1952," he explained.
Casting Gwyneth Paltrow, however, was a far tougher sell. "She did not want to act any more, that was what I was told in 2021," Safdie said. After being repeatedly told a meeting was impossible, he persisted. "I said to her people, 'Please, just get me in a room with her', because I grew up revering her, she has this kind of untouchable greatness." Her aura was perfect for the role of a fading Hollywood bombshell, and her chemistry with Chalamet electrifies the film.
A Performer's Debut and a Nationwide Release
In another unexpected casting move, Safdie tapped hip-hop icon Tyler, The Creator (Tyler Okonma) for his big-screen debut, casting him even before most others. "I believe a performer is a performer, it doesn't matter where they are," Safdie said. "He just has a way of fully inhabiting anything he's doing... he sees everything as one piece of expression."
With a stellar cast led by an award-winning performance, Marty Supreme proves that a compelling human story can be found anywhere—even across a ping-pong table. The film serves into Australian cinemas from January 22.
