Fair Play * * * *

Phil paid for a free item. Bad Trade!

I've been ripped off again.  I just paid to see a film at the cinema which I could have watched for free on Netflix.  This is the third time this has happened to me.

But maybe I did okay: The cinematic experience is always better.  Besides, not everyone has a Netflix subscription. If you haven't, (sometimes I do sometimes I don't) I'd advise you to go see this film at your local movie house.  It's good!  It's also a strong debut from writer/director Chloe Domont.

It's set in the world of finance: traders, hedge fund managers and all that. Its not quite as cool as the TV Series Billions. but probably a lot more realistic.

Emily and Luke are a couple of young traders and they're hot.  Both in performance and in looks. They work for a firm where non-performers are dealt with quickly and decisively.  They are also in a relationship which they would rather keep secret from their employer and fellow traders.  At this stage they are on the cusp of getting engaged.

In keeping with acting on poor performance the Senior Portfolio Manager of the firm is sacked.  It's rumored that Luke is in line for the position, but surprise, surprise it is Emily who gets it.  "I'm so pleased for you" says Luke with wet eyes but looking like he has just bitten into a shit sandwich.

And so the decline commences. Is this the inevitable outcome of people who claim to love one another but thrive in the cut-throat, highly competitive business they are in?  

Emily says she wants them to share her advantage.  With her in a position of power she will be able to further Luke's career too. "We're a team" she says.  But Luke struggles. He wants to make it on his own and he wants to prove it to her.  He does external courses for extra training, he makes high risk trades which Emily allows, putting her own position at risk.

And Luke does not get better - neither as a performer or a person.  Emily pines for the loving happy relationship they had.  But perhaps she is now seeing a side of Luke which she never knew existed -  jealous and chauvinistic, bordering on psychopathic.

Set in the heat of the trading room, or in the tight space of their apartment, their relationship starts to look like a cage fight. 

Supposedly cool informed and successful people they also come across as naive, unbalanced, deprived of emotional intelligence, and hopelessly out of touch with their hearts. Such flawed characters frequently provide fine drama.

Special mention of Eddie Marsan who plays the boss.  Normally cast as the nice guy, I had no idea he could play such a monster!