Ballad of a Small Player

A three-time loser in Macau attempts to find some way to get into one last game and reverse his fortunes.

I avoided watching this the first time Netflix stuck it in my face. I'm honestly tired of this setup. How many times do we have to watch a gambling addict in a casino before we get to say, "Yeah, I get it"? But this one stars Colin Farrell, and he's been in some really great movies over the past decade or two. Who can forget In Bruges?

Speaking of Bruges, this is set in Macau, another exotic location if, like me, you've never done much travel. It's an interesting place, and it's a bit surprising that Macau doesn't show up in gambling movies more often. One thing you may notice is the vibrant colors, both because North Americans often seem to prefer more muted colors and because the director enjoys being stylistic.

There's a moral to this story, and it's not particularly subtle. It's not particularly hard to guess what it is, either. However, Farrell makes his loser more of a lovable rogue than many actors would probably be able to pull off given the protagonist's issues. When he finally bares his soul, it feels genuine. So, while the story isn't exactly a completely original one, it's pulled off with what I felt was enough talent that I remained interested.

That said, I pulled out my smartphone near the end because it seemed to be going well past the obvious stopping point. If you're interested in Chinese culture, you should find the climax interesting, though. It goes in a direction I wasn't quite expecting, which is always a nice thing in a gambling movie.

This part goes a bit more surreal, which I liked, but I felt it wasn't as original as it could have been, It seemed to take influence from American and Japanese psychological thrillers of the 1990s, which is cool but a bit played out these days.

I enjoyed Colin Farrell's acting. I'd say it's worth a watch if you're a fan. His love interest was also cool, though I didn't feel I got to know her too well. This seems mostly Farrell's show. Besides that, it's a fun watch if you like stylistic movies with a touch of surrealism.

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.

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.

Ballad of a Small Player is a visually hypnotic tale of addiction, alienation, and redemption. Directed by Edward Berger and starring Colin Farrell, it follows a self-styled British gambler spiraling through Macau's neon-lit casinos. The film's fusion of noir, psychological drama, and spiritual allegory turns the city itself into a haunting character. Farrell gives a magnetic performance, both desperate and dignified, embodying a "hungry ghost" consumed by endless desire. I enjoyed the story's atmosphere and Farrell's depth, though the side characters, especially Dao Ming, could have been more developed to balance his journey. While the plot leaves redemption ambiguous, the film's mood, visuals, and themes of cultural dislocation and craving make it a beautifully crafted exploration of loss and longing-less about winning and more about what's left when the gamble ends.

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.