Many film critics say “Never bet against Big Jim” because each time James Cameron releases an Avatar film, everyone doubts its success in anticipation and then sheepishly reports that the film has made over a billion dollars. This year is no different, with Avatar: Fire and Ash having just crossed the billion dollar mark a few days ago. A close second to that Hollywood aphorism is never bet against Little Timmy in December. For the third time in a row now, Timothée Chalamet has starred in a hit film released in December: Wonka (2023), A Complete Unknown (2024), and now Josh Safdie’s period dramedy about table tennis, Marty Supreme.

I don’t wish to speak ill of Wonka (a very fun movie that capitalizes on Timmy’s theater kid energy), but A Complete Unknown and Marty Supreme have — in addition to hitting at the box office — shaken up the Oscar race right before nomination voting. Just this week, Chalamet won Best Actor at the Critic’s Choice Awards, and Marty Supreme scored both a SAG (Screen Actor’s Guild) ensemble nomination and a DGA (Director’s Guild of America) nomination for Josh Safdie. (Note that those last two were announced after we recorded this episode.) As Marty Supreme quickly rises in the precursor rankings, can it compete with top contenders like One Battle After Another and Sinners? Is Chalamet the Best Actor frontrunner now? We conclude this episode by debating these questions, but only after spending some time thoroughly dissecting Marty Mauser’s character arc, as well as the story’s themes and Safdie’s bold cinematic vision.

A special thanks and shoutout to our guest co-host for this episode, Hasib Hossain. He brought his valuable perspective as a New Yorker, a Safdie bros. fan, and an insightful film nerd.

We go into SPOILER MODE at the 23:05 minute mark. If you don’t want to be on the cover of this Wheaties box yet, you may listen safely until then.

Image Credit: LA Times

You can listen to The Long Take Review on Substack, Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

All music licensed through Epidemic Sound.

Logo art: Illustration 73265080 © Worldofvector | Dreamstime.com

Get full access to The Long Take at thelongtake.substack.com/subscribe