FAIR PLAY – Review by T.J. Callahan

Fair Play : “ We all do filthy things.”

Fair Play is anything but fair. The new Netflix romantic thriller slices and dices its hard core players mentally and physically and then kicks them to the Wall Street curb showing us that despite our society’s attempt at progressiveness, the male-female power dynamic still exists. First time feature film writer and director, Chloe Domont has a sharp and sassy career ahead of her if she continues to bring this slick and steamy style to her very human stories.

Fair Play stars Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton) and Alden Ehrenreich (most recently Oppenheimer) as Emily and Luke. The recently engaged, upwardly mobile finance professionals love hard and work harder. When Emily gets a promotion at the high stakes hedge fund they both are employed at, once supportive dialogue between the two turns nasty and vengeful.

Fair Play harkens back to the 20th century sexy sabotage dramas we loved, but it brings 21st century kinetics. A smart, on the fast track female who desires and deserves power still cuts her head on the glass ceiling and second guesses her role in her relationship.

Dynevor tosses her petticoats for business suits and is divinely vindictive as she is vulnerable. She’s a hero and a victim while Ehrenreich is believably sensitive and loving only to become terrifyingly evil as he falls on his sword as his dreams go up in smoke. Veteran character actor, Eddie Marsan adds to the tension by making sure the void between the two grows deeper.

Fair Play plays like a horror film…and it is…as we watch female empowerment collide with male fragility and two charismatic go-getters feel the world closing in on them. See this movie with your significant other and discuss.

Fair Play is in theaters now and on Netflix October 13th.