Movie Review: ‘Ballad Of A Small Player’ On Netflix

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Review by James Lindorf

Edward Berger does not have the name recognition of Spielberg, Cameron, del Toro, or Nolan. But if he can continue an impressive run that began in 2022 with “All Quiet on the Western Front” and its nine Oscar nominations, which he followed up with last year’s “Conclave”, earning eight nominations of its own, he may end up on the list we compare all newcomers to. After taking a short break, Berger has renewed his relationship with Netflix for his latest film, “Ballad of a Small Player,” an adaptation of Lawrence Osborne’s 2014 novel of the same name. The emotional thriller was filmed mainly on location in the beautiful city of Macau, a special administrative region of China, better known as the gambling capital of the world. “Ballad of a Small Player” began a limited theatrical run on October 15th to build excitement and ensure it is eligible for all major awards in early 2026, before moving to Netflix on the 29th.

Lord Doyle (Colin Farrell) is on the run from someone or something and is lying low in Macau. He spends his days and nights on the casino floors, drinking heavily and gambling what little money he has left. The smaller his bankroll, the more elusive Lady Luck seems to be, and the bottom drops out when private investigator Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton) arrives in Macau ready to hold Doyle responsible for his transgressions. On the run from Blithe and his fast-rising debts, Doyle is offered a lifeline by the mysterious Dao Ming (Fala Chen), a casino employee with secrets of her own. Doyle has a steep climb to salvation, but with his first honest connection in years and a bit of luck, he may come out on top.

Several elements stand out, and depending on how one of them is received, the film could garner three or more nominations. First, there is the performance of Colin Farrell, who is giving it his all. You may love, hate, or be utterly indifferent to the overall project, but you can’t fault his dedication. His performance is emotional and surprisingly physical, given the film’s general plot. He perfectly captures a degenerate gambler whose addiction is taking a mental and physical toll. Swinton and Chen complement his performance wonderfully. Blithe is quirky and intense but not without a touch of humanity, which is surprising given her job. Dao Ming is a lot like Doyle, but where he has isolated himself and has an unyielding faith in his ability to turn things around, Dao Ming is constantly reaching out despite her own depression and frustration with her past.

The other standout elements come from the visual categories: Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design. The makeup work on Farrell accentuates his performance, making it that much more believable. If you saw him on the street, you’d recognize him, but you would probably run home to Google news about him falling on tough times or getting a horrible diagnosis. It is a marvel and possibly the best subtle makeup I have ever seen. While Doyle may not look healthy, he and everyone have great outfits that complement both the luxurious and the dilapidated settings created by the design team. Resulting in a cohesive world of the uber-rich and those who are a few miles away and barely scraping by.

The most contentious element will be the film’s color palette and presentation. It is reminiscent of Paul Thomas Anderson’s quirky realism, which feels just off-center. “Ballad of a Small Player” is beautifully vibrant, bordering on garish. The saturation and degree of hyperrealism often create a separation between the characters and their setting, giving an artificial green-screen feel when it was shot on location. Some people will love this design choice, but many more will find it something to overcome.

“Ballad of a Small Player” has many items in the win column, but the script is the movie’s weakest element. Doyle starts out too unlikeable for the amount of time given to and the reasoning behind his redemption. His grand gesture is not well thought out, given his current situation, and we are left with nothing but the impression that he will be ok because Dao Ming did for him what she couldn’t do for herself. Even though the movie features some top-tier elements, the plot’s troubles pull the whole project down to a 3 out of 5.

Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Rating: R
Runtime: 1h 41m
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 29, 2025
Director: Edward Berger
Writer: Rowan Joffe
Based on the novel: The Ballad of a Small Player by Lawrence Osborne
Producers: Mike Goodridge, Edward Berger, Matthew James Wilkinson
Director of Photography: James Friend
Production Designer: Jonathan Houlding
Make Up & Hair: Heike Merker
Costume: Lisy Christl
Composer: Volker Bertelmann
Editor: Nick Emerson
Production Co: Stigma Films, Good Chaos
Distributor: Netflix