Fair Play (2023)

[SeanC]

The biggest acquisition out of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, this psychological thriller (I've seen some reviews, etc. call it an erotic thriller, but I wouldn't say that really fits) about a woman who makes the mistake of earning more money than her fiancé.

Basically a two-actor showcase, both Dynevor and Ehrenreich are excellent here, and Chloe Domont's direction does a lot with settings that aren't inherently all that dynamic.

[aghst]

"Erotic thriller" = there's some nudity?

[Miss Slay]

^ Not sure why it's being dubbed an "erotic thriller" when it's simply a thriller. They're probably trying to bring in some of the Bridgerton audience but it's nothing like Bridgerton.

I thought it was a fantastic film. Great performances by Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich. I love films that showcase what it's like for women in the workplace. It's a bit Working Girl in the way it shows what it's like for women in a male dominated field with a pinch of the Devil Wears Prada in that it also showcases the effects of doing well at work can have on one's relationship.

It really delves into male fragility in an accurate way by showcasing what can happen when a woman gets a promotion or more success than her partner. 

Really enjoyed it.

 

[Cementhead]

I'm not even sure why it is being called a thriller let alone an erotic thriller because I found it to be neither.  I kept waiting for the thriller part to kick in.  I suppose it does at the very end but by that point I was ready for it to be over. 

That opening sex scene was a choice.  I read a comment elsewhere from someone who said she watched this with her parents and in-laws over the weekend as they celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving.  I suppose if they can survive both mentally and emotionally being in the same room together during that, they can survive just about anything.

If anything, it introduced me to Alden Ehrenreich.  He reminded me of a young Jack Nicholson and I couldn't take my eyes off him. 

[cpcathy]

Did not care for it, there was a lot of “what the fuck?” And “what the fuck are you talking about?” and I thought that felt lazy.

 

[Laurie4H]

I wasn’t bored but can’t say I liked it.  The man’s actions were crazy but the woman didn’t have any redeeming qualities.  The sex scenes were not erotic. Dirty bathroom and the other thing I won’t say since it’s probably spoilers was gross.  

[Nellise]

Usually I don't like ambiguity in movies, but I wish they hadn't had the scene in the bathroom at the end so that it was more questionable how bad of a guy Luke was. Otherwise I guess it was ok? Two people who make each other miserable and don't do much of anything else isn't very interesting so I kept waiting for more.

[SeanC]

14 hours ago, Laurie4H said:

The man’s actions were crazy but the woman didn’t have any redeeming qualities.

Huh? She genuinely tries to be supportive of her partner and his career, and is undermined at every turn by his aggressive insecurity.

This isn't really a movie about heroes, but she's hardly devoid of likeable characteristics.

[AngieBee1]

On 10/10/2023 at 8:59 AM, Nellise said:

Usually I don't like ambiguity in movies, but I wish they hadn't had the scene in the bathroom at the end so that it was more questionable how bad of a guy Luke was

I didn't need the bathroom scene to drive home that Luke was a bad guy. It was evident by the time he began putting seeds of doubts in Emily's head about the way she dressed or the reason why she was given the job. To me, the film really was a blow to all the Nice Guys - men who think they are allies to women and progressive, but who still can't help themselves from their own sense of entitlement. If he got the promotion he would not have questioned why he got it.  He felt he deserved it (even after we find out that he cost the group millions under the previous supervisor).  But Emily gets and he is trying to justify why she got it - all of which has nothing to do with her merits. 

He quickly corrected his uncle (IIRC) at the wedding about how smart Emily is as a way of showing his uncle that she has more going on for her than her looks. But when he doesn't get what he wants he thinks she only got the job because of her looks and her being female. 

Jealous, petty, undermining (accusing her of sexual harassment).... the non-consensual sex in the bathroom was just one more notch on his Bad Guy belt. 

On 10/10/2023 at 8:38 PM, SeanC said:

She genuinely tries to be supportive of her partner and his career, and is undermined at every turn by his aggressive insecurity.

Exactly that. She was a cheerleader for him after hearing the rumour that he would get the job; and even still a cheerleader for him when she got it and she was attempted to put in a good word for him. Even when she began to have doubts after the boss illuminated about how Luke wasn't as on the ball as she assumed he was (in regards to him losing that money under his first portfolio manager), she still listened to Luke's ideas and tried to lift him up that corporate ladder. 

[aghst]

On 10/10/2023 at 6:17 AM, Laurie4H said:

I wasn’t bored but can’t say I liked it.  The man’s actions were crazy but the woman didn’t have any redeeming qualities.  The sex scenes were not erotic. Dirty bathroom and the other thing I won’t say since it’s probably spoilers was gross.  

 

On 10/10/2023 at 8:38 PM, SeanC said:

Huh? She genuinely tries to be supportive of her partner and his career, and is undermined at every turn by his aggressive insecurity.

This isn't really a movie about heroes, but she's hardly devoid of likeable characteristics.

Everyone was horrible.

She did try to get him promoted but her wielding the knife and making him whimper wasn’t great either.

She also made up the stalking story but her boss didn’t care as long as she made money for the firm.

They probably knew they were a couple but didn’t care as long as she produced.

It’s a cutthroat world and she learned to be cutthroat herself.  Was she going to keep hiding their relationship?  It looked that way until he couldn’t take not getting promoted and acted like a prick.

Sure it could be seen as gender politics, male privilege and fragility.

Or they’re just all awful people, willing to do anything for money.