What Is the Story About?
The film follows Emily Meyers and Luke Edmunds are analysts at One Crest Capital, a cutthroat New York hedge fund. The duo is in a passionate relationship and even engaged. But, this is a secret kept from their coworkers as it goes against the company policy. As the company fires one of the PMs, Emily is chosen as a replacement by the company CEO. This sprouts a chain of insecure reactions from Luke who now feels threatened by his partner being better than him at work.
Performances?
The central characters Emily and Luke are played with calculated finesse by both Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich. The conflicts, the insecurity, jealousy and discomfort between a couple when the woman rises up the ladder and is more successful than the man is safe in their hands. Even when the paper thin writing falls flat, these performers deliver more and keeps you at the edge of the seat.
Analysis
Written and directed by Chloe Domont, Fair Play is a psychological drama and a workplace thriller that smartly and mostly revolves around the power equation between a couple, when one of them gets promoted to a high position leaving the latter insecure and jealous.
Fair Play begins with a rather boldly done erotic scene between Emily and Luke, and the former gets her periods. The scene also cleverly foreshadows the bloody fate the couple meets at the end of the movie. The duo is in a passionate relationship and decides to get engaged.
Since their relationship goes against company policy, Emily and Luke keep it extremely secretive. Emily overhears a rumour about the company promoting Luke to the position of a Portfolio manager following the dismissal of one of the PMs. The duo celebrate the news only for the company CEO to promote Emily as a PM instead.
What happens when a woman climbs the ladder in a cut-throat competitive corporate world and excels at her job? How does her colleagues and even partner deal with this change? How fragile is the male ego to accept a woman doing better at her workplace? Fair Play touches all of these and more.
Emily is not written as a staunch feminist, she is a madly-in-love woman who repeatedly forgives the wrong-doings of her partner, tries to fix what’s already broken until she reaches a point of inflammation where there is no going back. Fair Play navigates what it means to be a woman who does better and earns more than the man.
That being said, Fair Play could’ve been so much better had the writing been more nuanced. The core conflict of the film is strong enough, but the screenplay does no real justice to the complexity and intricacy of the same. Fair Play tries to be an edge of the seat workplace erotic thriller, but it really fails to tick the boxes. The run-time and pace further bogs the film down.
In short, Fair Play is an exceptionally acted psychological drama, but that’s largely about it. The film fails to level up with the tension the conflict creates. Nevertheless, it’s a nice watch in parts. The climax sequence especially works big-time.
Music and Other Departments?
Menno Mans’ cinematography captures the growing tension between an ambitious couple and makes the audience claustrophobic enough as the climax approaches. Brian McOmber’s music elevates the tension and aids the actors scenes together with aplomb. Franklin Peterson’s editing however is all over the place.
Highlights?
Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich
Climax
Drawbacks?
Outdated Screenplay
Pace
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, in parts.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but in parts.
Fair Play Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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