Ballad of a Small Player

For anyone or everyone that sm9kes, over eats, gambles, does drugs, shopping soothes your soul oh and drug addicts and alcoholics ... This movie reaches in and grabs you... look past the few flaws and you may f8nd a piece of yourself in this character that Collin plays with depth and honesty.

Considering the fact he's been in recovery for years.

Honest to God second viewing I found myself in tears for both leading actors. There's a bit of this in everyone ...Great movie I'm glad I watched 2 x ..

Been thinking about this interesting, visually impressive,like it or loathe it drama/thriller/dark comedy.

First, Colin Farrell excels in the lead as a loathsome, slimy worm of a man who reminded me of Lord Melbury from Fawlty Towers,Paul Whitehouse's character from The Fast Show- The 13th Duke of Wimbourne and....well....me! The slicked back black hair, spiv moustache and a liking to unusual clothing. It made me laugh!

His addiction to gambling is palpable and director Edward Berger isn't afraid to show how far he's fallen, with close ups,shaky camera,humour.

His character develops to a road to redemption way via a mysterious Chinese ghost story (the Hungry Ghost) that also reminded me of the excellent Twilight Zone episode The Misfortune Cookie with Elliot Gould.

This adds a feel of a horror film that will put most off (Laura) but will give the keen watcher a lot to digest (was he dead,was the old woman at the table the devil?).

I'd pair this with an underrated Phillip Seymour Hoffman gambling film from 2003 'Owning Mahowny' .

The cinematography expertly captures the empty look of hotels (Doyle's psyche?) to the razzle dazzle of China.

Only Tilda Swinton is a misstep in her silly glasses and wig that she looked like Lynne and Nan. She fails to convince as a private investigator.

I'll happily rewatch this strange, hypnotic film and already think it's one of the best films about addiction.

The Ballad of a Small Player is a stunningly crafted cinematic noir that further proves Colin Farrell's knack for brooding, morally complex roles.

Set against the electric and chaotic landscape of Macau, the film's cinematography is nothing short of breathtaking. The visuals paint the city as both a playground and a prison: rich neon reflections shimmer off rain-soaked streets, casinos glow like sirens calling the desperate, and the humid haze clings to every frame. Even when the film ventures to a rained soaked ocean top village or shadowy back-alleys, the camera finds beauty in the grit-each shot meticulously composed to echo the protagonist's internal decay and eventual rebirth.

Director Edward Berger brilliantly transports the audience into the sensory overload of Macau. You feel the sweltering humidity pressing down, the stickiness of a desperate night spent chasing fortune, the cathartic chaos of monsoon downpour washing away sins long clung to. Berger doesn't merely show this world-he makes the viewer physically inhabit it. The sound of taught rope swaying an ocean barge and the potential for stress induced cardiac arrest become a pulse that drives the narrative forward.

At the heart of this film -- is Farrell's mesmerizing performance as a disgraced British lawyer turned compulsive gambler on the edge of oblivion. His portrayal is raw, vulnerable, and unpredictable-oscillating between self-loathing and flickers of hope. Tilda Swinton, enigmatic as ever, plays a force of both temptation and salvation, her presence commanding and quietly devastating. The supporting cast provides depth and humanity, ensuring the emotional stakes remain grounded even amid high-rolling spectacle.

The storytelling grips from the outset, charting an arc that feels both tragic and uplifting. It is a journey of ruin and redemption, executed with elegance and emotional intelligence. The Ballad of a Small Player is a haunting, visually arresting triumph-one that lingers long after the credits roll. Highly recommend!

Colin Farrel is one of my favorite actors and with this film he really got to show his acting chops. He practically carried the film by himself but then Tilda showed up!

With the back drop of Macau, the beautiful buildings and colors juxtaposed with people living in small boats out on a river it really makes the colors stand out even more.

Watch through the closing credits to see Colin and Tilda dancing.

Cannot understand the bad reviews. This is a beautiful movie about the conflict between impulse and addiction versus the struggle for redemption.

Yes, the dialogue isn't always strong, but the visual storytelling more than compensates. The cinematography beautifully captures the sense of melancholy and disorientation the character is going through.

Don't expect to be narrated every thing, meet the movie on its own terms, don't ignore the context laid in the background - after all the movie takes place during the Hungry Ghost Festival - and you will enjoy it.