Fair Play

I don't watch many movies nowadays because most of them are simply very bad, I rather stick with the series but this one here did not dissappoint. I wanted to see something longer, without shooting, killing, with some dialogues and I found it. It has good plot, good acting. There are no forced sex scenes, almost no sex at all but there is a good tension between the main characters. Their interaction is very realistic. It is good fun that keeps you watching until the end. Of course it is not a masterpiece but if you want to spend enjoyable evening, maybe with your spouse, I can recommend it to you.

7.9 stars.

Long time since I've seen a movie quite like this. There are a lot of psychological thrillers out there, but very few pull off this genre as effectively as 'Fair Play'.

These are some actors I'm not very familiar with, although his role as Han Solo was noteworthy, even though I didn't totally love that movie. I see she's in Bridgerton and I watched several episodes.

What totally caught me off guard was how methodically this film escalates to the inevitable destruction of two previously beautiful and intelligent lovers. No momentum is lost as it builds and builds at a steady and thrilling pace until they implode. What is truly chilling - this is a plausible outcome given the right circumstances. Take an underachiever coupled with someone out of their league, mix in a little crazy and you've stumbled on the narrative of 'Fair Play'. I've seen situations like this with my own relatives when they had a few too many (if you know what I mean) and this couple has a few too many throughout this story. I don't believe the director or writers even realize fully what they are presenting to us. Take the wealth, prestige, good looks, charm, and too much fire water, and you have the perfect set of circumstances, leading to the demise of two talented and lovely young adults.

This thriller is all about emasculation and lack of confidence in an otherwise normal and down-to-earth guy. In all respects, she is well adjusted, he is not, and this disconnect is the root of their dismantling. As the couple spirals even further into chaos, you might be surprised at how the story ends. The final scene is absolutely brilliant.

I thought this was a very entertaining movie. The direction of the movie was obvious from the beginning and yet that didn't change the thrill of the journey. The movie is ultimately about how insecurities and bitterness will rot a relationship. Anxiety and angst are probably the main feelings you will experience throughout the movie but that's because it felt like the stakes were always high. The acting was superb by the whole cast. Phoebe Dynevor's facial expressions really sold the movie. As her character experiences the different stages of the movie, you can't help but feel the same as her. She reminded my of Alexandra Daddario's performance in the White Lotus. So much can be said by bewildering expression. Overall, I'd recommend this gripping psychological drama.

To be honest, Phoebe Dynevor's passionate performance in this film is quite seductive and different from her previous roles. Fortunately, the main focus of this film emphasizes that they are colleagues who are in love and whether they have different views regarding the only career advancement opportunity. If it were me, I would certainly wish my loved one the best and support her to climb higher. But I'm not the male lead, and I'm just an ordinary Taiwanese person. I'm not very familiar with whether Americans in the finance industry need to uncover secrets like in this film to advance their careers.

I saw Fair Play at Sundance 2023 in a crowd of cinema enthusiasts, making the theater experience electric and engaging! While Fair Play isn't my typical movie taste, it was exceptionally well done, with tension and stress building consistently from start to finish and exploding into all-out insanity and paranoia in the film's final act. My heart was pounding as the selfishness and jealousy of these characters devolved into pure hatred and disdain. Once the credits rolled, I finally felt like I could breathe for the first time in an hour! Domont did so much with so little, mastering suspense and keeping the audience on edge. With such arrogant and self-centered characters, it is hard to "enjoy" the film and the sexual content was unnecessary, but the craft and skill are undeniable, and it's no surprise why it was so well received at Sundance and scooped up so quickly by Netflix.