Following the critical acclaim and academy award success of his prior two films, All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) and Conclave (2024), director Edward Berger is back with his newest venture, Ballad of a Small Player. The film stars Colin Farrell (The Batman) as Lord Doyle, a high stakes gambler who decides to lay low in Macau after his past and debts catch up with him. Along the way he encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation. A very different breed compared to his prior works, Ballad of a Small Player boasts excellent performances and mesmerizing visuals, though leaves much to be desired within the tonally inconsistent story.
Straight from the get-go, we are thrust into a very vibrant world alongside Farrell’s Lord Doyle, and it’s a sight to behold. Set in the stunning city of Macau, the story takes us through casinos, festivals, brightly painted luxurious buildings and perfectly symmetrical gardens. Each shot is meticulously crafted, bringing color and life to our screens whilst fully immersing us into the offerings of Macau. Full of neon lights, extravagant suits and bustling poker tables, Macau becomes a character of its own, and the visuals quickly become the films best asset. The score, composed by Volker Bertelmann who also leant his talent to Berger’s prior works, adds to the urgency and looms heavy upon the backdrop, immersing us even further into this trippy world. Technically speaking, Ballad of a Small Player is incredibly well made, and audiences will enjoy spending time in this city with all its unique locations.
No-one doubts or becomes surprised by Colin Farrell’s talent, but he really does deliver particularly excellent work during Ballad of a Small Player. He’s playing a very broken individual in Lord Doyle, a character who cannot get his gambling, drinking and binge eating under control, and owes a lot of money to a lot of people. Taking us on a whirlwind of a journey, Farrell is simply excellent throughout, whether conveying Doyle’s fear, urgency, depression or happiness. The supporting cast are also great, with Tilda Swinton (The Grand Budapest Hotel) making an appearance as Cynthia Blithe, an individual tasked with getting payment Doyle or calling the authorities. The pair are absolutely hilarious together, sharing some of the most entertaining scenes of the film including a particularly funny chase sequence. Swinton is hilarious and unique as ever, her curly-haired Londoner character boasting effortless charm and humor. Stay through the credits if you want to see a nice surprise from herself and Farrell. Fala Chen (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) also makes the most of her screen-time by delivering a nuanced, sweet and emotional performance. The cast are terrific, and Berger’s direction of them matches the calibre that we’ve seen prior.
The story of Ballad of a Small Player is a little hit or miss. When at its most high octane, with tense card game sequences, unique dancing and following a very stressed Colin Farrell through the streets of Macau trying to get his life together, it’s an absolute blast. However, every other scene does quite the opposite of this, the plot surrounding suicide, poor physical illness, addiction and loss. The abrupt change from quirky cool to somber and slow creates jarring tonal inconsistencies, with many slower scenes that appear to halt the run-time due to the excitement within the scene before it. Whilst some fabulous dialogue and good camerawork is certainly present during those slower scenes, they drag on for a little too long and fail to hit the emotional beats they’re aiming for. Furthermore, there is a reveal during the third act that is very easy to see coming, and may leave some seasoned film watchers underwhelmed. Ballad of a Small Player definitely has something for everybody, whether it’s humor, heart or intense themes, but does struggle to balance them all.
Overall, Ballad of a Small Player is worth a watch due to the talent of Edward Berger, the excellent performances from Farrell, Swinton and Chen, and the extraordinary visuals that elevate each and every scene. The tone is inconsistent and the storyline isn’t always the most engaging, but with a run-time of under two hours and plenty of memorable, entertaining scenes, it more than deserves a viewing.
