The Real Hustler Behind Timothée Chalamet’s ‘Marty Supreme’

Marty Supreme is a flashy period drama inspired by real ping-pong player Marty Reisman, but it aims to be an homage rather than a strict history lesson. Set in New York in 1952, the film follows a streetwise, very confident, and ambitious young man who dreams of becoming a world champion. Timothée Chalamet has earned strong reviews for his Golden Globe-nominated performance.

The movie does not tell Reisman’s full life. Instead, it covers a short, intense stretch in 1952 as he chases glory in table tennis. Some events and dates are condensed, and the story includes creative changes to heighten drama, but most of what you see in Marty Supreme is tied to real life. Here is what the film gets right about the real Marty Reisman.

Directed and co-written by Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme draws loosely from the life of Marty Reisman. The character’s name is changed to Marty Mauser for the film, played by Chalamet, but the story follows Reisman’s goal to become the best table tennis player. Reisman, nicknamed the “Needle” for his slim build and sharp talking, was known for loving the hardbat playing style.

Born in New York in 1930, Reisman grew up on the Lower East Side and started playing ping-pong at nine after a nervous breakdown. By 13, he was a ping-pong prodigy and junior champion. As an adult, Reisman hustled players at the Lawrence Broadway Tennis Club on 54th Street and Broadway. Like a pool, chess, or poker hustler, he would lure weaker players, lose on purpose, then win big in rematches.

Reisman was a flashy showman with a bold style. He also played aggressively, sometimes blindfolded, if a bet was high enough. During his career, he won five bronze medals at the World Table Tennis Championships from 1948 to 1952. Between 1946 and 2002, Reisman won 22 major titles. The film, however, focuses on one dramatic year in 1952.

Most reviewers agree that the film’s strongest match to Reisman is showing his Jewish background, Lower East Side roots, flamboyant personality, charm, and strong drive to be the best. Chalamet’s performance is expected to win an Oscar nod for portraying Reisman’s energy and spirit accurately.

The film also portrays Reisman’s trials in 1952 New York. It shows late-night ping-pong sessions, calculated manipulation to win money from less skilled players, complicated relationships with married women, and other bold actions that did occur. In the movie, Marty briefly joins the Harlem Globetrotters as their opening act, which happened in real life from 1949 to 1951, though the film places it in 1952. These events stay mostly true to life.

The movie includes Reisman’s famous conning tricks, such as playing ping-pong blindfolded, a skill he developed early. It also shows other quirks, like using a $100 bill to measure a net. Part of his hustle was presenting an aura of stylish success, visible in his mid-century pinstripe outfits.

Because the film only covers a short part of Reisman’s life, many details are left out. For example, Reisman’s wife Yoshiko Koshino does not appear; she is represented by Kay Stone, a rich socialite who loves Mauser and stays with him through the ups and downs. The doubles partner Douglas Cartland also does not appear; in real life, Cartland and Reisman won a bronze medal at the 1952 World Championship. The movie moves some locations, such as Mumbai becoming Tokyo, but keeps the general idea of risky schemes to earn money and enter competitions.

The movie hints at Reisman’s later success, such as his 1958 and 1960 titles, and his status as an older champion later in life. Marty Supreme shows Reisman’s bold, larger-than-life persona to tell a focused, fictional story about Mauser. The film’s energy and strong performances helped it win three Golden Globes: Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Best Actor for Chalamet, and Best Screenplay for Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein. It was also named among the top ten films of 2025 by several groups.

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