Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
For the first few minutes, the grand, glitzy, theatrical mood of ‘Ballad of a Small Player’ deceptively makes one think of it as ‘The Great Gatsby’ in reverse: a wealthy man’s descent into ruin through gambling. But instead it morphs into a strange tale of addiction, mania, ghosts, greed, and redemption.
Directed by Edward Berger and written by Rowan Joffe, Lawrence Osborne, the 2025 movie stars Colin Farrell as Lord Doyle, hiding out in a luxurious Macau hotel suite, while gambling deeper into debts. He turns to Dao Ming (Fala Chen), a kind casino employee, hoping she’d agree to a ‘win-win’ deal. All while Blithe (Tilda Swinton), a private investigator from the UK, is already on his trail.
“Fuck!” – that’s the opening line of ‘Ballad of a Small Player’, uttered by a groggy Doyle as he wakes up in his hotel bed. What follows is a cinematic glimpse into the life of a chronic gambler, a man who simply can’t give up the game, despite constant losses, always hoping the next bet will change it all. Our man can’t even win against a smug, spoiled old Chinese lady gleefully betting away her husband’s cash.
Colin Farrell as Lord Doyle is charismatic, delusional, and a little too serious for someone constantly toying with fate. I last saw him in The Penguin, where his character’s look is so jarringly different that it took a moment to get used to seeing him without truckloads of prosthetics.
The first few minutes of ‘Ballad of a Small Player’ are exciting, complimented by the glamorous shots of the colorful Macau and a gritty, dramatic background music. The city is a lot like Vegas, but the creators also capture its cultural shades through its temples and local festivals. Doyle’s adventures unfold during a traditional festival where people pay homage to their dead ancestors, which is called ‘Festival of Hungry Ghosts’.
As soon as it becomes clear that Doyle is nothing more than a gluttonous, greedy gambler with grand delusions, the film starts to feel tedious and hard to sit through. And that’s within the first fifteen minutes. ‘Ballad of a Small Player‘ could have thrived as a dark comedy, but instead, it aims for ‘Black Swan’ territory, only with a gambler instead of a dancer, whose grip on reality becomes questionable. (A few intense scenes play out like they were designed purely for awards season.)
That’s not to say ‘Ballad of a Small Player‘ doesn’t have its moments, it does. One of the subtlest gags lies in how Doyle doesn’t even enjoy the “high-flying” lifestyle he clings to so desperately. He takes no pleasure in the luxuries he surrounds himself with: the gourmet food, the expensive cigars, or the opulent hotel suites he litters with neglect. The real irony is his obsession with winning money despite finding no joy in anything it buys him, perhaps the most interesting takeaway from his story.
Tilda Swinton brings her trademark versatility to Blithe, the British investigator, disappearing into the role with effortless precision. Dressed in sweaters that look like they’re out of your grandmother’s closet, Blithe’s simple, straightforward personality offers a comical contrast to the corrupt and flashy Doyle. There’s just a whisper of a cat-and-mouse game between them… will she reel him in, or will he charm his way out once more?
After a challenging first half, ‘Ballad of a Small Player‘ redeems itself with some unexpected twists towards the end, one that’s absurd, mystical, and even supernatural. Writing anything more would veer into spoiler territory, so I’ll skip the details. Let’s just say there’s plenty of gambling, obscene amounts of money on display, and a dash of superstitious madness.
The climax is surprisingly emotional, giving Doyle an ending that doesn’t feel earned, but wraps up the tale on a high note. Tip: Stick around until the end, there’s a post-credits scene with a fun little dance sequence that adds nothing to the plot but is still worth the watch.
Rating: 6.5 on 10. Watch ‘Ballad of a Small Player’ on Netflix.
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