LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — For many individuals, table tennis is a game well-known in settings like basements and sports bars. Still, in the movie “Marty Supreme,” table tennis is revealed as a competitive and aggressive sport centered in stadiums across multiple continents. This movie had countless fans on the edge of their seats, wondering what was next. The extent of tension and drama portrayed allowed for no time for bathroom breaks or looking away. From containing action to romance, this movie had it all. 

“There were very shocking moments, and the fast-paced plot and editing kept you on the edge of your seat,” said Naomi Dixon, a Los Alamitos High School sophomore. 

After being released in theaters on Christmas Day, “Marty Supreme” has been out for a month and has made almost $90 million at the box office, grossing its original budget by over $15 million. The movie has not only done well at the box office but has also been highly praised by audiences. Currently, the film has been scored 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the third-highest rated movie Timothée Chalamet has done.

During the movie, fans are subconsciously cheering on the complex character, Marty Mauser (Timothee Chalamet), even though he isn’t depicted as a good person. If some people want to claim he was a con man and a bad person, they wouldn’t be completely wrong. But Mauser is a young 23-year-old with a talent; you can’t entirely blame him for having passion and ambition.

Throughout the movie, the audience is obliged to want the same things that Marty wants for himself. Sadly, Marty’s pride and desperation contribute to his poor decision-making skills. This led to the majority of the movie being the collateral damage from Marty’s actions. Although it’s sad for the characters, it’s extremely entertaining for the viewers. 

Although the film is not about a real person, it is loosely based on the famous American table tennis player, Marty Reisman and bases some storylines on his career and life.

The overall story of the film was not only interesting but well executed. Usually, when films have a run time longer than two hours, it can feel a bit too dragged out. However, “Marty Supreme” was the exception; there was never a storyline that disappointed or felt dragged out. Even subplots felt so strategically placed that it felt slightly disappointing there wasn’t more time for it to be focused on. The film’s general story was Marty’s tireless attempts to become a world champion. This meant getting to Japan, where the championships were held.

“I don’t think he’s the perfect protagonist; he’s a real person that shows the duality between being human and attempting to be great,” said Vivienne Nicholis, a junior. 

The film is set in 1952, seven years after World War II. The movie often references the recent war and presents the tension between certain nations and the ambition to beat them.

In the movie, the character Alojzy Ehrlich (Géza Röhrig) is a representation of the real Alojzy Ehrlich, a famous Polish table tennis player. This portrayal of the real Alojzy Ehrlich is significant because he survived the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau. The movie even shares Alojzy Ehrlicher’s notorious ‘Honey Story’ during his time in the camp. 

The film’s themes and plot are great enough on their own, but when compiled with the talented cast, this movie went beyond expectations. From A-list actors to Grammy-nominated musicians, this cast was packed with notable names like Timothee Chalmet, Odessa Azion, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler Gregory Okonma (Tyler, The Creator), Kevin O’Leary and Fran Drescher.  

“I think it makes it better with the famous actors, but also a little hard to see them as their character since I recognize them from other movies,” said Abbey Gutierrez, a sophomore. 

“Marty Supreme” is a film about dreaming big, as shown through the film’s theme and promotion. The film doesn’t show the glamorous side of ambition but the grittiness of it all. The plot challenges Marty with how much he is willing to sacrifice to achieve his dream.