A high-stakes gambler decides to lay low in Macau after his past and debts catch up with him. Along the way he encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation.
“Ballad of a Small Player” is a slow, strange, and stunning descent into the personal hell of a man running out of places to hide. Based on Lawrence Osborne’s novel and directed by Edward Berger, the film is gorgeously rendered, impeccably acted, and emotionally haunting, but also suffers with a muddled narrative that’s downright tedious.
Colin Farrell delivers one of the best performances of his career as Lord Freddy Doyle, a broken, delusional gambler wandering through the neon haze of Macau with nothing left to lose. Clad in green velvet suits with polished manners, Doyle looks the part as he pretends to be someone of stature. But beneath the surface he’s unraveling from being deep in debt, estranged from himself, and chased by demons both literal and figurative.
The film is a character study of loneliness, addiction, and regret, and Farrell brings so much to the table. You can see every ounce of pain and regret on his face as he embodies Doyle with the fragile, manic, and desperate energy of a man who is just barely keeping it together. This is a truly phenomenal performance from the actor.
Visually, the film is equally extraordinary. Berger reunites with cinematographer James Friend, and the result is a breathtaking visual feast. Macau has never looked more haunting or hypnotic with its garish opulence clashing with the quiet despair of a man who has overstayed his welcome in every corner of his own life. Berger uses sweeping wide shots, carefully composed frames, and an almost dreamlike visual language to tell an intimate story on an epic scale. Every image is loaded with mood, and every shadow feels like it’s hiding something.
Unfortunately, the story itself doesn’t hold up. The adaptation struggles to make sense on screen, suffering from a meandering plot, glacial pacing, and scattered structure. There are long stretches where not much happens, and the dreamlike nature of the film seems confusing and vague. The film’s real focus is the internal awakening of Doyle to the cost of his life’s decisions, a theme that’s powerful in concept but not always compelling in execution. The film seems designed more to be experienced than understood, which will either feel like a rewarding mood piece or a beautifully dressed bore.
Despite being undeniably well-crafted and anchored by a phenomenal lead performance, “Ballad of a Small Player” is a stylish drama that’s slow, meandering, and emotionally opaque. But if you’re willing to sit in the silence, stare into the neon-soaked void, and watch a lost soul spiral toward self awareness, there’s something hauntingly beautiful to be found here.
