Ballad of a Small Player Review

The combination of Colin Farrell in an Edward Berger film was enough to sell me on Ballad of a Small Player. With a recent streak of amazing films such as Conclave and All Quiet on the Western Front, Edward Berger sets his sights on three back-to-back hits.

Colin Farrell plays Lord Doyle, a high-stakes gambler laying low in Macau as his past debt begins to catch up to him. The supporting cast is slim but effective, with Tilda Swinton as an unrelenting debt collector and Fala Chen as Dao-Ming, a love interest who pulls Doyle deeper into the film’s central struggles.

Still from Ballad of a Small Player featuring Colin Farrell — Still from *Ballad of a Small Player*

The film balances several important themes — the addictive nature of gambling, the corrosive pursuit of wealth, and the emotional decay that follows. Doyle’s lust for fortune becomes a constant chase that corrupts the soul, blurring the lines of reality. Like any addict, he spirals into loneliness and depression as his obsession consumes him. Berger visualizes these ideas through physical manifestations that distort Doyle’s world and his perception of himself, mirroring real discussions around mental health and the rise of gambling addiction.

The score and cinematography work beautifully together, pulling you into Doyle’s world of caviar and high-stakes Baccarat in Macau. Watching him burn through every dollar he has — and those he doesn’t — spikes your anxiety in the best way. Farrell delivers another master-class performance, though the script’s confusing final act leaves the ending open to interpretation. Perhaps that ambiguity is intentional, lingering long after the film ends.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Review by: Stefano Bove

Boss Level Film Review

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