Fair Play (2023 film)

Fair Play is a 2023 American erotic thriller film written and directed by Chloe Domont, in her feature directorial debut. It stars Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor as a young couple whose relationship starts to unravel following an unexpected promotion at a cutthroat hedge fund firm. Appearing in supporting roles are Sebastian de Souza, Eddie Marsan and Rich Sommer.

Fair Play
Directed byChloe Domont
Written byChloe Domont
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMenno Mans
Edited byFranklin Peterson
Music byBrian McOmber
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • January 20, 2023 (2023-01-20) (Sundance)
Running time
113 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Fair Play premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023. It will be distributed by Netflix.

Plot

Fair Play is a compelling and thought-provoking film that marks a potential comeback for the erotic thriller genre. Directed by Domont, the movie explores the forbidden love between a young couple working in the finance industry. Dynevor and Ehrenreich deliver exceptional performances, portraying complex and relatable characters who face the challenges of power dynamics in both their personal and professional lives.

The film delves into the harsh realities faced by women in the finance industry, shedding light on the sacrifices and struggles they endure to succeed in a male-dominated environment. Simultaneously, it also presents an unflinching examination of contemporary masculinity. Ehrenreich's portrayal of Luke, a character who initially appears as the ideal partner, showcases his talent as an actor and redeems him from recent career missteps. Luke's journey is a difficult one, and as he witnesses his girlfriend, Emily, navigating the harsh realities of the boys club, his own vulnerabilities and insecurities come to the surface.

Cast

Source:[2]

Production

The film was announced in December 2021, with Chloe Domont writing and directing the film, and Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor set to star in the film.[3] Production began in January 2022 in Serbia.[4] In February, with Sebastian de Souza, Eddie Marsan and Rich Sommer joining the cast.[5][6][7]

Release

Fair Play premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023.[8] Shortly after, Netflix acquired distribution rights to the film, after a bidding war between half dozen companies, for $20 million.[9][10]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Fair Play holds an approval rating of 90% based on 77 reviews with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "With assured style that's at times reminiscent of the best '90s nail-biting thrillers, Fair Play juxtaposes premarital disharmony with greed and gender politics in the cutthroat finance world."[11] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the film has a score of 76 out of 100, based on 18 reviews indicating "generally favorable reviews".[12]

In his review for Variety magazine, Owen Gleiberman lauded Domont's screenplay and direction, as well the cast performances, writing that "Fair Play, while full of sex, money, corporate backstabbing, and a lot of other things that are fun to watch, really is a good little movie."[13] Describing it as a "steamy, razor-wired, barking-mad movie" in his review for IndieWire, Ryan Lattanzio assigned the film a grade of A- and praised the screenplay and cast performances (particularly Ehrenreich's).[14] Kevin Maher of the Times gave it a score of 4 out of 5, stating: "There’s something bracingly modern yet deliberately old-fashioned about this guilty pleasure thriller set in the aspirational world of Manhattan high finance."[15]

Geek Girl Authority said: "Fair Play is a tense, relentlessly crafted adult thriller. The simmering tension baked into the narrative, complete with a sprinkling of erotic drama, shows up-and-comer Chloe Domont bringing the erotic thriller into the new millennium. This challenging narrative won’t be for everyone, but if you can meld with the ambiguity and the tension, you’ll be pulled right in."[16]

References
  1. "Fair Play". Sundance Film Festival. January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  2. Lattanzio, Ryan (January 21, 2023). "'Fair Play' Review: This Sick Psychosexual Finance Thriller Is 'Industry' Directed by Adrian Lyne". IndieWire. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  3. Kroll, Justin (December 1, 2021). "Alden Ehrenreich And Phoebe Dynevor To Star In Fair Play". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  4. Kasule, Melissa (December 3, 2021). "Fair Play drama set to shoot in Serbia". Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  5. D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 7, 2022). "Fair Play: Sebastian de Souza, Eddie Marsan & Rich Sommer Join MRC & T-Street Finance World Thriller". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  6. "'Fair Play' Cast on Creating Sundance's Most Shocking Sex Scene: 'There Was Too Much Blood at One Point'". Variety. January 22, 2023.
  7. "'Fair Play' Sundance Review: An Intense Ride Down A Slippery Slope As A Young Couple Descends Into Relationship Hell". Deadline. January 21, 2023.
  8. D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 7, 2022). "Sundance Film Festival Lineup Set With Ukraine War, Little Richard, Michael J. Fox, Judy Blume Docs; Pics With Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke, Jonathan Majors; More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  9. Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 23, 2023). "Netflix Closing Deal For Hot Sundance Title 'Fair Play'; Deal In $20 Million Range". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  10. Jr, Mike Fleming (January 21, 2023). "Half Dozen Bidders On 'Fair Play' Positions Drama To Be 2023 Sundance's First Big Auction Deal: The Dish". Deadline. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  11. Fair Play, retrieved February 3, 2023
  12. Fair Play, retrieved January 23, 2023
  13. Gleiberman, Owen (January 21, 2023). "'Fair Play' Review: A Gripping Financial Drama Dunked in Up-to-the-Minute Sexual Politics". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  14. Lattanzio, Ryan (January 21, 2023). "'Fair Play' Review: This Sick Psychosexual Finance Thriller Is 'Industry' Directed by Adrian Lyne". IndieWire. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  15. Maher, Kevin. "Fair Play review — sex, lies and jealousy on Wall Street". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  16. Pierce, Kimberly (February 2, 2023). "Sundance Film Festival 2023 Review: FAIR PLAY". Geek Girl Authority. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
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