'Fair Play' movie review [Sundance 2023]: An intense dramatic thriller with genre office politics

The world of office politics is all too familiar to many employees around the world, which films they play more and more. Writer-director Chloe Domont makes her feature film debut with Fair playwho finds a way to intertwine a young relationship with the office trauma terrors. His well-written script taps into dramatic workplace gender politics that he finds a unique edge to captivate.

‘Fair Play’ sets up a young couple for failure

L-R: Alden Ehrenreich as Luke and Phoebe Dynevor as Emily | sundance institute

Emilio (phoebe dynevor) and Lucas (alden ehrenreich) are a happy couple in New York who thrive on the news of their recent engagement. They have an undeniable passion that unites them physically and emotionally, but they have to keep their relationship a secret from the ruthless financial firm they work for due to company policy.

A highly coveted promotion opens with a substantial raise and the potential for monumental future success. As a result, Emily and Luke’s relationship undergoes a severe upheaval that throws their new engagement into utter chaos. They are about to discover the true price of success.

The fragile male ego and the hunger for power

Fair play drive with the everlasting passion between Emily and Luke. Her chemistry is on the verge of exploding, as other men envy what she has about her, calling her the “prettiest girl in the room.” However, her dynamic suddenly changes when she also demonstrates a drive for success in her career. Emily leaves her ring at the apartment, reverting to a “work-appropriate” relationship. A manager has an alarming outburst in the office when he is suddenly fired in front of his colleagues, acting as a harbinger of the dog-eat-dog world that is unfolding.

Initial office rumors point to Luke getting the promotion to the now-vacant job, but they are shocked to discover that Emily actually earned the position. Most of the on-screen employees are male, who instantly have no desire to work for her. They make offensive assumptions that she must have slept her way to the top, instead of winning it on her own merit. Naturally, Luke begins to cave in to his peer pressure, even though they have no idea that he is actually in a romantic relationship with Emily.

The initially happy couple devises a plan to boost each other’s careers. Luke first offered to help Emily, but now that the positions have changed, he’s uncomfortable with the offer. Fair play places the fragile male ego under a magnifying glass, demonstrating how it rots and ultimately becomes a source of destruction. Taking the advice of a leadership motivational speaker, Luke inherits the most toxic lessons that only further alienate him from Emily.

‘Fair Play’ is a sharp and captivating thriller

Domont builds tension through his crisp script, but his direction, paired with Menno Mans’ cinematography, frequently finds ways to make the office environment feel like a place of imminent danger. Brian McOmber’s score injects additional urgency into the pivotal scenes, bringing even more dramatic weight to an otherwise rather drab setting.

Lead actors Dynevor and Ehrenreich deliver riveting performances that take on a sudden dramatic turn. Dynevor is electric in a solid performance that anchors even the most melodramatic moments. Meanwhile, Ehrenreich is flawless in an emotional performance that further demonstrates his greater emotional range than ever before.

Luke says presentation is everything. It quickly becomes apparent that sinister intentions lurk behind many of the seemingly harmless interactions. The truth of the story doesn’t sugarcoat the darker corners of these characters, and Domont has a meaningful message to back it all up. Fair play is a ferocious dramatic thriller with bite.