Movie Review: Fair Play (2023)

Genre: Drama

Director: Chloe Domont

Starring: Phoebe Dynevor, Alden Ehrenreich, Eddie Marsan

Running Time: 113 minutes

Synopsis: In New York City, Emily and Luke (Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich) are analysts at a prestigious but cut-throat stock trading firm. Against company policy, they are also secret lovers and planning to get married. When Emily is unexpectedly promoted and becomes Luke's boss, he struggles with jealousy and self-esteem issues. In addition to managing Luke's emotions, Emily has to prove herself to company owner Campbell (Eddie Marsan) and navigate a male-dominated office culture.

What Works Well: Director and writer Chloe Domont embraces a detached corporate aesthetic and strides into a complicated knot of shark-infested office politics, illicit romance, bro culture, career ambitions, a fragile male ego, impostor syndrome, and the interface between power and sex, all in an erotically charged milieu. The twisty drama is always searching for the less expected and more emotionally challenging path, and the don't-hold-back attitude is propelled by a fearless Phoebe Dynevor performance.

What Does Not Work As Well: The writing often lacks wit and subtlety, vulgarity used as an obvious crutch. Some of the more emotional scenes reach for excessive levels of loud theatricality.

Conclusion: The messes usually confined to bedrooms and bathrooms...here spill all over the office.



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