2023 Sundance Film Festival Movie Review: Fair Play
We first meet Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) at a wedding reception. The two cannot get enough of each other. They love each other’s personalities, they love their jobs, they love their bodies, and they love the life they have with each other, which is why Luke proposes to Emily that very evening.
The following morning, they go to their jobs as financial analysts at a cutthroat financial firm where nobody knows they are dating, let alone engaged. When a promotion opens up at the firm, rumors swirl that Luke might be in line for it. That is until Emily gets a late-night call from the firm’s boss (Eddie Marsen) informing her that she is getting the promotion. Emily’s new promotion now makes her Luke’s boss, which brings up several issues and pent-up emotions in their relationship.
Fair Play is the directorial debut of Chloe Domont and she immediately establishes herself as a voice to watch going forward. Her direction of the film is very good, but I was most impressed by her screenplay. This is a deft, layered script that slowly peels back its layers and winds up being a pulse-pounding thriller. Fair Play looks at toxic masculinity, male insecurity, and being a woman in a male-dominated workplace. Domont’s script is never obvious about Luke’s feelings towards Emily’s promotion. Luke will say certain supportive things while also saying things that come off as passive-aggressive or rude. When the picture becomes clear about Luke’s mindset and how he really feels about Emily, that is when Domont’s script really shines and the writing pops on screen.
Bringing Domont’s script to life are two tremendous performances by Dynevor and Ehrenreich. Dynevor, known for her starring role in Netflix’s Bridgerton, plays a woman who worked her ass off to get to the position she is in at her firm, despite others thinking she got there for simply being an attractive woman or because she slept her way to the top. Dynevor is smart, strong, and impressive in what is bound to be one of the breakout performances of the year. Ehrenreich, an actor we have seen in comedies, action movies, and fantasy movies, showcases his dramatic talents and gives his best performance since 2016’s Hail, Caesar!. Ehrenreich utilizes his boyish looks and charisma to portray Luke as initially supportive of Emily and her promotion. He claims to be happy for her and supportive of her career movement, but Ehrenreich’s tense facial expressions show something is boiling inside. Dynevor and Ehrenreich have excellent on-screen chemistry and you really feel the authenticity of their relationship at its best and understand their collapse, leading to an explosive finale that will take your breath away.
Fair Play is a first-class psychological thriller led by Domont’s stellar screenplay and top-notch acting.
Fair Play premiered in the U.S. Dramatic section of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
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