Director Edward Berger (CONCLAVE and ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT) is a technically proficient and narratively competent filmmaker. He has proven himself with his last two films. That’s why it’s sad to report that despite how visually satisfying BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER is, it’s an empty film with a protagonist (played by Colin Farrell) that’s hard to root for.
Even after spending 100 minutes watching the movie, I’m still at a loss for what the intent was. I do understand that gambling is bad, and redemption stories are good. However, that story is lost amid a sea of blinding lights from the gorgeous Macau locations. Also, don’t even get me started on the post-credit dance sequence with Farrell and Tilda Swinton 🤮.
Final Thought: Colin Farrell, Tilda Swinton, and Edward Berger have all made cinematic masterpieces in their careers. BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER is a minor setback, and I’m betting all three will do fantastic work in the future. However, this isn’t it.
It’s available to stream on Netflix.
