In recent declarations for GQ, Safdie—making his solo directorial debut—reflected on the exact moment he knew Chalamet was a generational talent and the intense, “generous” work ethic the actor brought to their 1950s New York set.
Josh Safdie and Timothée Chalamet attend the NYFF63 Secret Screening during the 63rd New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on October 06, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FLC)
That “Groundbreaking” First Impression
Long before they teamed up for the story of ping-pong hustler Marty Mauser, Safdie remembers being struck by Chalamet’s breakout turn in the 2017 classic Call Me By Your Name. For Safdie, it wasn’t just a good performance; it was a revelation.
“Here he gave this groundbreaking performance, jumping off the screen like, ‘Wow, who is this soul?’” Safdie remarked. “The camera, and movies in general, are just documentaries of people’s souls in a way. And his was quite deep and three-dimensional.”
26 Takes to Find the Feeling
IMDb
That depth was put to the test during the filming of Marty Supreme. Known for the frenetic, high-stakes energy of his previous films like Uncut Gems, Safdie pushed Chalamet to his limits to capture the perfect emotional frequency.
“Timmy was very generous. He sometimes did 26 takes,” Safdie revealed. He noted that Chalamet was especially patient when working alongside supporting performers who had never acted before. “I was very interested in pushing Timmy and seeing him basically act underneath the dialogue and do so many takes and see if he could tap into it.”
For Safdie, the high take count isn’t about technical perfection—it’s about a raw, visceral connection. “Because when I’m on set watching, all I’m looking to do is feel. That’s it. If I’m not feeling, it’s a bad take.”
A “Career-Best” Performance?
The buzz surrounding the film suggests the effort paid off. Early reviews from the New York Film Festival have hailed Chalamet’s performance as a “career-best” and a “top-level” achievement. Starring alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Tyler, the Creator, Chalamet portrays a character loosely inspired by real-life legend Marty Reisman, a man described as having a “jabbing wit” and a “wiry frame.”
With Marty Supreme already picking up three Golden Globe nominations—including Best Actor for Chalamet—it seems the “documentary of his soul” is exactly what audiences (and Safdie) were looking for.
