Summary:
Chloe Domont’s Fair Play (2023), which is also her directorial debut, falls in the category of psychological thriller. The movie analyzes gender dynamics, ruptured ambition, and the insatiable appetite for power in the world of cutthroat finance. Fair Play takes place in modern New York City and offers romance that is just as much about betrayal and enduring the hedge fund world as it is about survival.
The narrative focuses on two analysts in a hedge fund, Emily Meyers (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke Edmunds (Alden Ehrenreich). They are engaged to be married, but because of the strict office policies regarding relationships, they are unable to share this information publicly. From the outset, the couple interacts in a playful and friendly manner, hinting at a complex fantasy of mutual domination in the corporate world.
The expectation is violently disrupted with Luke and Emily’s company competing for a promotion that they appraise as the industry’s highest accolade. From the appraisal he received from his boss, the praise he tends to give himself, and countless other cues that circulate within social realms, Luke builds a storyline around winning for sure. His chances seem to be the highest for the promotion. But plot twist Emily gets the promotion instead. For her sustaining the few remaining bits of her optimism becomes frustrated and hopeless as her bleak expectation furthers the conflict with the person she loves most over their mutually envisioned life trajectory.
The scars on Luke’s ego are quite visible. It’s quite apparent how much he tried to be a good boyfriend and partner, but his femininity and self-worth suffer deeply. With promises made alongside astonishing anger directed towards her at the door, Emily contemplates an all together new spectrum of challenges head on: the misogynistic and sexist stares from her male colleagues.
As the bulk of the film continues, the audience witnesses what can be defined as spine shattering tension. Emily adapts to the workplace, while Luke alternates between controlling and passive aggressive and domineering. The private intimacy that used to characterize their relationship turns into emotional turmoil and gaslighting. Their beautiful apartment turns into a dreaded battleground where they mix professional rivalry with deep-seated personal animosity. The couple engages in a psychologically cruel contest, yielding deeply damaging results that are bound to leave them shattered.
Along with the husband and wife toiling through their ups-and-downs, Fair Play takes the opportunity to criticize systemic sexism that permeates into both personal relationships and work life. It examines the layered narrative of what happens when the worst of the masculine is let loose on the fiercest lovers—boundless ambition, unfounded entitlement, and deeply rooted insecurity.
Cast & Crew:
Phoebe Dynevor as Emily Meyers – Dynevor’s brave performance in Bridgerton, where her character’s success stirs up chaos in her romance and workplace, is commendable. He portrayal of Emily embodies the duality of assertiveness paired with vulnerability and grounded emotional ambition.
Alden Ehrenreich as Luke Edmunds – Ehrenreich invokes a taut and anxious performance as Luke. Pouring his rage into his craft, he smoothly transitions from a loving husband to a dangerously insecure, violent antagonist.
Eddie Marsan as Campbell embodies the relentless, cold-blooded hedge fund boss, infusing realism and menace into the character. He is the most obvious threat and personifies the overwhelming stress and moral dilemmas of the financial world.
Director & Writer: Chloe Domont – Domont boldly debuts with her work tackling the interactions of violence, power, gender, and relationships. Her writing and directing marks her as one to watch in psychological drama and thriller cinema, with her tension-laden violent style blending seamlessly into commanding direction.
Producers: Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman – The ‘Knives Out’ producers offered their expertise to ‘Fair Play’ during production so the project could retain quality throughout and succeed on the festival circuit.
Cinematography: Menno Mans – The stunning visuals of the film match the icy, polished world of finance. The cinematography focuses on the characters’ faces in extreme close ups, forcing the viewers to experience the heightened intensity of the emotions.
Music: Brian McOmber – The score of the movie adds suspense in a way which is quite difficult to pinpoint; this is done through subdued and minimalist arrangements.
IMDb Ratings and Critical Reception:
Add or adjust any additional information such as framing or viewport changes across different screens. Beginning in 2024, ‘Fair Play’ had an IMDb rating of 6.5/10, and critics and film festivals had higher appreciation of the film than audiences suggesting it was literally enjoyed by viewers but critically received better appreciation. The movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The Markt wit in the United States drew the attention of one of the prominent distributors of the fair, suggesting the filmmakers wanted to market the film as a commercially appealing work of art.
Critics complimented the movie for the intense performances and writing alongside the depth of thought and creativity captured in the film. Phoebe Dynevor was lauded for her performance in the role of Emily, and her delicate and realistic interpretation of her character firmly established her as an emerging name in serious drama. Ehrenreich’s performance attracted a great deal of attention because, in his role, he depicted a man possessing disturbing levels of sociopathic toxicity.
Also, the reviewers praised the dissection of the social power hierarchy within relationships in sociology which is frequently overlooked socially. Critics commented on the extent to which Fair Play captures contemporary conversations around gender equality, especially when pondering as sexism within professional settings. The film directed by Chloe Domont inspired mentions of confident and assured bold direction, resembling the style of David Fincher and Adrian Lyne in the depth of psychological attention, stylishness, and underlying violence.
Some critiques focused on the emotionally violent and climatically disturbing elements of the film, including verbal abuse coupled with an emotionally explosive showdown. Admirers defended this interpretation as encapsulating the motifs of the narrative, while others felt that it had indeed gone too far, resulting in an awkward viewing experience.
Conclusion:
As much as the film is a captivating psychological thriller, Fair Play relentlessly disassembles professional ambition and romantic intimacy in its exploration of its central themes. The film does not let go of its taut grip as it depicts the Love-Power conflict, which occurs most starkly when gender dynamics are introduced.
What makes Fair Play striking is its topical relevance, but not its emotional authenticity as well. The character of Emily and Luke portray the feel of actual people riding through the dynamics of real life. What was once a loving and goal oriented relationship transforms into a cautionary tale of shattered egos and unexpressed resentment. It pulls back the curtain on the hidden ugliness that can lurk beneath love’s gentle veneer.
Chloe Domont’s premiere marks the emergence of a bold new director prepared to expose realities that have long been ignored. The shift in power is executed with fierce emotional carnage due to Domont’s pinpoint direction and the brilliant performances by Ehrenreich and Dynevor.
For some who seek nuanced reigns of socio-political commentary blended with gorgeous sizzle and deft scripts, Fair Play is beautifully satisfying—if disquieting at times.