All is not fair in love and war. All is not fair in work, either. We discover as much in “Fair Play” when a couple (played by Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich) are touted for promotion at their hedge fund.
He’s seen as the one most likely, but she gets the job. And their idyllic relationship? It begins to show signs of unraveling.
Written and directed by Chloe Domont, “Fair Play” has the same crackle as “Fatal Attraction,” the same surprises as “Promising Young Woman.” It takes on toxic masculinity as well and emerges with a fascinating character study that’s never predictable.
Ehrenreich’s Luke thinks he’s progressive and able to deal with his fiancee’s new life. But when she has to work after hours and meet with other executives, he becomes suspicious. Dynevor’s Emily, meanwhile, is so busy climbing the ladder she doesn’t have time to notice who may be feeling left out.
Those slights emerge with regularity and feed the beast repeatedly. Ehrenreich, who has always been the best actor in the films he’s in, finally finds a worthy sparring partner. Dynevor meets him head on and creates the kind of electricity that other films only sparked.
Home life changes for a couple when one gets a promotion at work. Alden Ehrenreich stars as Luke and Phoebe Dynevor stars as Emily in "Fair Play."
Domont shows others stoking the fire (and the harmony they enjoy at one point in their relationship) but it’s the head-to-head battle that really makes “Fair Play” a force.
Shot in claustrophobic ways (the walls of their apartment look like they’re closing in on the two), it’s not hard to feel the pressure. While scenes at work seem harmless, they’re triggers for the battles at home.
When Luke suspects she got the job in ways he couldn’t, the relationship is doomed. Watch how Ehrenreich uses his eyes to convey suspicion. Masterful.
Domont, too, has done her homework. She has a Hitchcock-level thriller on her hands and yet it’s not one against a number of people. It's one on one.
What’s even more telling is how truthful this is. Because Emily wasn’t seen as the one to get the job, most assume there were other reasons for the promotion. Ability, then, becomes an afterthought.
From left, Phoebe Dynevor as Emily, Eddie Marsan as Campbell and Rich Sommer as Paul in "Fair Play."
Like Emerald Fennell, Domont knows how to write and tell a difficult story. She doesn’t choose sides, but she does offer plenty of evidence.
When it’s presented it’s hard not to sympathize.
Easily one of the most exciting films of the year, “Fair Play” sets the table, then waits for someone to tip it. Delicious.
"Fair Play" opens in theaters this weekend, then moves to Netflix in October.
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