No-one can say we're not getting our fair share of psychological 'thrillers' these days. Like buses, as soon as one comes along there's another one behind. The question is, are they any good as in, are they original, are they 'thrilling' and how soon will overkill set in. "Fair Play" is actually very good indeed as well as being highly original. It's set in the world of high finance where the term 'cutthroat' can be both metaphorical and literal especially if sex is also involved. Emily, (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke, (Alden Ehrenreich, in a role finally worthy of his considerable talents), work together but have been hiding their relationship from colleagues. When one of the them gets a promotion things in general start to go pear-shaped.
What distinguishes "Fair Play" from its rivals is its attention to detail. Here we have an environment that feels painfully real and a plot that initially might seem unlikely yet doesn't actually feel that contrived. It's not perfect. I found it hard to believe that its protagonists could not only live together but also be engaged without anyone at work catching on. Nevertheless, as a movie about the toxicity of office politics where men and women think they can compete on an equal footing with disastrous results "Fair Play" ultimately lands a gut-punch thanks largely to terrific performances from Dynevor and especially from Ehrenreich as well as an excellent turn from Eddie Marsan as the boss from hell. Not necessarily pleasant viewing but certainly a cut above.
1 comment:
I felt conflicted about this film. I enjoyed parts of it and thought that Ehrenreich and Dynevor were both very good leads. As much as I abhorred Ehrenreich's behavior later in the movie, I did not feel that his character merited the comeuppance he received. It actually seemed that the Dynevor character acted just as badly as he did by then, so, in the end, it felt more like a feminist revenge thriller that left me cold. I would definitely agree with the two stars you gave it.
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