Ballad of a Small Player
2025
***
Director: Edward Berger
Cast: Colin Farrell, Fala Chen, Tilda Swinton, Deanie Ip, Alex Jennings, Jason Tobin, Adrienne Lau, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Alan K. Chang, Margaret Cheung
A washed-up gambler known as Lord Doyle hides out in Macau after fleeing the UK under dubious circumstances. As his luck seems to run out and his debts grow, he hopes to strike it rich once more at the baccarat tables. Edward Berger's drama looks and sounds terrific — the neon lit Macau shot by James Friend looks fabulous and Volker Bertelmann's score is powerful. However, the story, based on Lawrence Osborne's 2014 novel, is not terribly original or captivating. Although Colin Farrell delivers a compelling performance, it's difficult to feel sorry for an addict who would sell his own mother to keep gambling.
