Ballad of a Small Player Review-Farrell’s Brilliant Performance Can’t Save This Risky Bet

Edward Berger, acclaimed for All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), returns to the director’s chair with Ballad of a Small Player. Despite standout performances—most notably Colin Farrell—Berger’s latest effort struggles to match his previous success.

Here is our version of Ballad of a Small Player review that will help you decide if this atmospheric thriller is a winning bet or a risky bluff.

Plot details of Ballad of a Small Player (2025)

Ballad of a Small Player is based on Lawrence Osborne’s novel of the same name. The story revolves around a gambling addict, Lord Doyle (played by Colin Farrell), who needs to stay low in Macau and pay off his past debts.

A mysterious, composed woman, Dao Ming (Fala Chen), comes to offer him salvation while he is running from a private investigator, Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton).

He even makes a leap of faith and consistently risks everything on increasingly large and desperate bets where his entire fortune is at stake. But for this symbolic redemption, his financial desperation is evident.

Watch the trailer here:

Actors’ performances in Ballad of a Small Player (2025)

Colin Farrell as Lord Doyle is brilliant. There is no measure left that Farrell has not taken to immerse himself in the character. His energetic physical performance is outstanding, and he is deeply habituated to winning.

The grandeur of Macau, and the musical and happening environment of the place added to the physical and emotional hype that Farrell’s Doyle showed in the film. He looks outrageous with his spiffy moustache and helpless sweat while sitting on the gambling table with his so-called lucky gloves on his hands.  ​

Fala Chen portrayed a complex character, Dao Ming, who appears to be a sweet-talking casino employee helping gambling addicts by lending them money. Her character is full of strength, vulnerability, and quiet gravitas, which for the normal audience was initially difficult to decipher.

Towards the end, we could overtly understand why she had the emotional depth and groundedness that capture Ming’s inner determination despite her troubled past.

The third prominent character in the film was that of Tilda Swinton. Her role of Cynthia Blithe looks sharp, with a fusion of grit but funny and silly at the same time. She was hired for a determined role of an investigator who knows nothing but only the amount of debt Lord Doyle has to pay.​

What do critics add to Ballad of a Small Player review?

The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes isn’t favorable toward the film, stating that, said,

“Going all in with a committed Colin Farrell and a memorably opulent presentation of Macau, Ballad of a Small Player too often squanders its virtues by doubling down on excess to diminishing returns.” [Source]

The critics believed that the flick appears to be a “failed gamble by the director,” but Macau’s casino did not impress the viewers much. While Farrell delivers a committed and nuanced performance, the direction lacks the finesse needed to elevate the film into a current must-watch.

The visual excesses, images, and sounds did not do justice, as there was a clear lack of substance. The story did not resonate emotionally due to a “jumbled script”. Some of the mildly reviewed words mentioned that the film can be considered good entertainment, but with lazy storytelling.

Fans’ reaction

The rating from the general audience is slightly higher, but it cannot make up for the disappointments that fans also had to face. They were all praise for Farrell and Chen’s performances, but still declare the movie a “mess”.​

Their viewpoints highlight the fact that style, lights, music, and excellent acting weren’t the reasons that the film should have performed well. Edward Berger has done book-to-film adaptations before, but this one did not hit well.

Is it worth watching?

If you like Colin Farrell, then you can watch; otherwise, not. If you are hungry for Bond-like, stylish thrillers with visually stunning cinematography and Farrell’s phenomenal performance, then you can go for it.

However, the film’s strong visuals overshadow its narrative with unclear character motivations, seemingly a confusion for the general audience. If a person is unable to understand the substance, it might feel like a drag sometimes.  

The only part that truly captured my interest was the revelation of Dao Ming’s death, which left a strong impression on me. She was grieving herself too, and wanted redemption, which she would have possibly thought better in death.

The casino members declared that Lord Doyle had a ghost with him that helped him win all along, as everyone was suspicious. It was truly fascinating to see Doyle frantically wanting to return money to Ming after winning, and the road he took to find his own redemption.

What we liked

• Colin Farrell’s committed performance
• Fala Chen’s layered presence
• Tilda Swinton’s quirky sharpness
• Cinematic atmosphere of Macau
• Themes of guilt and redemption

What could be better

• Inconsistent direction
• Weak narrative focus
• Style over substance
• Uneven pacing
• Underwhelming emotional payoff

Here’s a detailed breakdown of our rating for Ballad of a Small Player (2025):

Story/plot	4/10
Characters and acting	8/10
Direction and pacing	4/10
Visuals and cinematography	7/10
Soundtrack/score	7/10
Themes and message	2/10
Emotional impact	2/10
Creativity/originality	3/10
Rewatchability	1/10

Our rating: 4/10

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Is Ballad of a Small Player (2025) available for online streaming?​

Yes, Ballad of a Small Player (2025) (R-rated) is available for online streaming on Netflix. 

Genre: Psychological drama, thriller, crime, mystery

IMDb rating: 5.8

Rotten Tomatoes: 46 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and 50 percent on Popcornmeter

Cast: Colin Farrell, Fala Chen, Tilda Swinton, Chik-Ka Lai, Alan K. Chang, Deanie Ip, Alex Jennings

Director: Edward Berger

Writers: Rowan Joffe, Lawrence Osborne

Producers: Edward Berger, Mike Goodridge, Matthew James Wilkinson

Release date: October 29, 2025

Movie runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes 

Have you watched Ballad of a Small Player (2025) on Netflix yet? How did you like it? Join the discussion.