Fair Play (2006)

the audience applauded

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Did you people see the same film I saw?

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Interesting idea, well developed and executed. Start was perhaps little pale, but under squash-verbal duel we could see what 'fair-play' goes in jungle called employment in happier part of World.After it comes real survival thing in wilderness, very well shot. We can think how far we really developed from wilderness 'population'...Actors were very good - in not easy conditions in second half. For non-French people most is unknown. I knew only about Marion Cotillard, who I saw first in Taxi (only as decoration), then she proved that is class actress in 'Un long dimanche ...' .Pacing was very good, and duration of 90 min is just apropriate for story and events.Watch it if can find...I ask myself: will Hollywood remake this, and how much overdone ?

Although the movie is called Fair Play, it obviously doesn't! If you've seen the movie (which you should have, before reading this, see spoiler warning above), than you know that only the strong survive in this movie.The first two acts are more or less action free, which made the transition to the third act, where the characters are fighting for their life, pretty difficult for some people to cope. It's understandable, but I think it still does work in favor of the movie. You do have the the squash game between the boss and the main character in the beginning, which is the "action" counterpart scene to the endings action scene. Throughout the movie it's obvious that to survive/to move up the (social/work) ladder, one has to sacrifice others! Of course all this is a satiric look on our society, especially when you see the development of our (at first) shy and nice main character ... I liked the movie for it's complexity and it's braveness, to be different!

Even if I am French, I am not a fanatical "french cinema lover". I think that too often french directors have more pretensions than real abilities. But, Fair Play is really a good film for those who, like me, have had difficult relationships in their job environment. Things are a little bit "over the top" in this movie, for sure. But the actors are so good... Give it a try, if you want to see how intelligence can mesh today with satirical criticism. Eric Savin is a real "ego monster" cruel and seductive. Benoit Magimel is without a doubt one of the more promising young french actors. Marion Cotillard gives a great performance too, playing a complex secretary, half shy and fearful, half aggressive and selfish. And, of course, Lionel Bailiu knows how to film. He does it like an entomologist watching his poor creatures fighting against the harshness of a meaningless existence.

I've heard of sport as a metaphor for life but this is ridiculous; there's literally barely a frame in which two or more of the principals are not rowing, jogging, playing squash, golf, canoing or mountain climbing. It's all in the interests of our old friend the company 'bonding' session and anyone who saw the play Neville's Island will know what to expect. For reasons best known to himself and/or the director Benoit Magimal is sporting red hair this time around; Jean-Pierre Cassel is wheeled on possibly to bring a touch of class to the marquee but the two females, Marion Cotillard and Melanie Doutey both turn in ho-hum performances. If you like sport and/or power games then this is right down your rue but if not you may be sorry you went.