‘Fair Play’ Never Gives Itself a Fair Shot

The latest in pop-culture news, recaps, and reviews, plus close reads, profiles, interviews, and more from Vulture.com. [Brand Logo]( movie review [Fair Play Never Gives Itself a Fair Shot]( The film is so unwavering in its black-and-white approach to sex and sexism that it restrains itself from delivering anything incisive or new. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix Fair Play defines itself by parallels, by how words, objects, and events take on different textures in different contexts. A smear of blood is sensual in one scene, fearsome in another; a drink after work is celebratory before it becomes exclusionary; a lie is innocuous, then damaging. Chloe Domont’s film divides the entire world into binary moments of understanding and misunderstanding — without the shades of gray that would make Fair Play and its characters more tangible and its central tension less didactic. That approach is limiting enough that it ultimately restrains the film, keeping it from fully taking advantage of the genres it references (the erotic thriller, the boiler-room drama). Instead, it settles for a female-empowerment ending that is foreshadowed loudly enough to feel slightly hollow. [read more]( Devour pop culture with us. Subscribe now to [save over 60%]( on unlimited access to Vulture and everything New York. The Latest TV Recaps • The Fall of the House of Usher: [Keeping Up With the Ushers (Episode 1)](, [Set Fire to the Rain (Episode 2)](, [Monkey’s Paw (Episode 3)](, [That Darn Cat! (Episode 4)](, [My Heart Will Go On (Episode 5)]( • American Horror Story: Delicate: [Anna Victoria Vomcott’s Revenge]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Stories We Think You’ll Like [Feeling Fine With Faye Webster The genre-defying singer-songwriter discusses the anomalous sound behind her two latest singles, “Lifetime” and “But Not Kiss.”]( By Charlie Harding and Reanna Cruz [A Curse Upon Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone’s House! (And Benny Safdie’s Wig.) Chip and Joanna whomst?]( By Rebecca Alter [Please Don’t Destroy? More Like Please Do Make a Movie. The Treasure of Foggy Mountain has Bowen Yang as a cult leader. We’d join.]( By Hershal Pandya [The FTC Is Throwing Out Junk Fees A proposed rule would tackle hidden concert-ticket fees among similar charges in other industries.]( By Justin Curto [SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP Aren’t on Speaking Terms Right Now After studios “walked away from the bargaining table.”]( By Jason P. Frank [Timothée Chalamet Wants to Be the Candy Man A small, orange Hugh Grant plays an “Oompa-What-Now,” threatens to poke Timmy Tim with a cocktail stick.]( By Zoe Guy [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Today’s Crossword]( 1-Across, Six Letters: OutKast or Mobb Deep, for example. A newsletter of TV and movie recommendations. [Sign up]( to get it every week. [Get the Newsletter]( [logo]( [facebook logo]( [instagram logo]( [twitter logo]( [unsubscribe]( | [privacy notice]( | [update preferences]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Was this email forwarded to you? [Sign up now]( to get this newsletter in your inbox. [View this email in your browser.]( You received this email because you have a subscription to New York. Reach the right online audience with us For advertising information on email newsletters, please contact AdOps@nymag.com Vox Media, LLC 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, 12th Floor Washington, DC 20036 Copyright © 2023, All rights reserved