Fair Play Reviewed by GREG KING
Director: Chloe Domont
Stars: Phoebe Dynevor, Alden Ehrenreich, Eddie Marsan, Rich Sommer, Sebastian De Souza, Brandon Bassir, Geraldine Sommerville.
Produced under the auspices of streaming giant Netflix, this is an erotic drama about power, ambition, gender dynamics and office politics set against the backdrop of the cutthroat high pressure environment of Wall Street and the stock market. It may also remind audiences of a number of erotic thrillers set in the workplace, like Barry Levinson’s 1994 thriller Disclosure, which was an exploration of sexual politics, gender and power within the cutting-edge computer industry.
Emily (Phoebe Dynevor, from the period tv drama Bridgerton, etc) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich, from Solo: A Star Wars Story, etc) both work at One Crest Capital, a high-powered financial brokerage firm on Wall Street run by Campbell (Eddie Marsan). They are also in a relationship together, but because of the firm’s strictures about interoffice relationships they are forced to keep their relationship a secret. Luke is keen to gain a promotion. But then Emily, who has impressed Campbell with her astute judgement and analysis, is given the promotion instead. She becomes a portfolio manager and is on the fast track to success.
Luke seems to be increasingly on the outer as their relationship is put under pressure and the tension between them mounts. Emily discovers that Luke has been considered a “charity hire” and was never going to be promoted, a secret which she keeps from him. Luke feels emasculated and threatened by Emily’s promotion and their relationship turns toxic and their apartment becomes something of an emotional battleground. He seems supportive and says the right things, but there is also a sense that he may be trying to undermine her. When he makes a risky investment, it is Emily who manages to save the day. But her efforts to help him are met with increasing resentment by Luke.
Fair Play has been written and directed by Chloe Domont, a director with lots of television work to her credit, making her feature film directorial debut here. It is obvious that she knows this world, and her exploration of the ruthless nature, aggressive masculinity and misogyny within the cutthroat world of hedge funds is well depicted here. She is critical of the male privilege inherent in this world. She also depicts the daily routine and grind of this world, and she does a good job of ramping up the tension. However, some of the financial machinations and jargon may go over the head of most viewers.
Marsan, a regular in the films of Guy Ritchie, brings a sleazy quality and arrogance to his performance as Campbell. Dynevor and Ehrenreich share a combustible chemistry as they chart the inevitable breakdown of their relationship. Ehrenreich in particular is slick and charming, but he also conveys that vulnerability and uncertainty when he is unable to compete with Emily’s achievements.
Despite being set in New York, Fair Play was actually shot on location in Serbia. The muted colour palette from cinematographer Menno Mans lends a gritty quality to the material and gives the film the look and feel of many a financial thriller from the 80s when greed was good, and greed worked.
★★★
