The Wasteland Reviewer

Ballad of a Small Player (2025) Written Review

How do gamblers get into so much trouble? The truth is, there is an addiction at work that will challenge someone to do everything against their own welfare to feed said addiction. Unquenchable and fervent, addiction can be a powerful force and has certainly overwhelmed so many people. Addiction will continue to arouse a need no matter the situation you are in. Gamblers are drawn to continue whether they are down big or if they are on a winning run. In truth, it is never about getting the actual money. Plenty of stories have been told about such addiction and downward spirals including Lawrence Osborne’s novel, Ballad of a Small Player. 

How does Edward Berger bring Osborne’s story to life on the big screen? Berger has gotten plenty of praise for All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave but that high wanes with this adaptation. From a technical standpoint, this one still rises to the occasion. Ballad of a Small Player is a gorgeous and stylish looking film. There are rich colors of the neon lit Macau as well as the sharp and impressive costumes. Colin Farrell’s Lord Doyle certainly rocks that red blazer and orange gloves so well. The camera moves in the most interesting and dynamic ways with the backing of cinematographer James Friend. Bold camera choices like spiraling shots and camera tilts give the film so much extra personality and energy. This wild ride of obsession and addiction finds Lord Doyle in such a distorted and wild environment and the filmmaking elements of the film match that energy well. The music does some serious heavy lifting as well with composer Volker Bertelmann who chooses human elements wrapped in musical bombast. The pacing is a struggle though as the film’s storytelling leaves plenty of space to potentially check out (especially with such a cyclical story). 

Does Osborne’s story deliver in the hands of screenwriter Rowan Joffe? The thematic work is at times too blunt and at others, too scattered. You have this cautionary tale of addiction which is the strong foundation to a story with potential. Unfortunately, Ballad of a Small Player navigates a common thematic structure without fresh ideas of how to explore it. The themes are significant but are blunted too much, leaving the audience with a perception that might lead them to check out. There are some big narrative threads that are handled in more clumsy and ineffective ways, causing these narrative elements to lose their bite. The third act of the film explores regret, loss, and exorcising your demons. These elements feel a little too little and late in the game as the audience was given so much space to lose connection throughout the film. Some of the late revelations also feel like they have a real bite since the set up is too basic. There are plenty of moments that ratchet up the danger that Lord Doyle finds himself in while exploring some rich thematic work, but everything is too jumbled and shallow to get Berger back to his prominence in his previous films. Ballad of a Small Player is filled with narrative and thematic potential, but the film never rises to that level. 

How does the cast explore this strange and striking film? Farrell is excellent, to put it plainly. He balances such a range of emotions while truly embodying his character. Sweaty, nervous, and frenetic, Farrell captures the sickly essence of someone overcome by their own demons. He has a good sense of humor (that shines through on multiple occasions) as well as a tragic feeling of emotion that overwhelms him. There are a few moments of true mania where Farrell unleashes these feelings vividly on screen. The audience stays connected as well as it does because of Farrell’s strong efforts. Tilda Swinton is a great performer, and she fills her mysterious role well (even if she is not given that much to work with). Fala Chen is excellent as an empathetic presence in Lord Doyle’s journey. Chen has great chemistry with Farrell, and their scenes together work so well. Deanie Ip is a big and bold presence for such a small and older woman, Grandma. This strong cast carries the audience through so many of the messy and clunky elements of the script. 

Is Ballad of a Small Player another award season darling for Berger? Not quite. The weaker script does undercut the overall effectiveness of the story and themes. You would not mistake Ballad of a Small Player for a great film, but it is one with great bits of merit. The filmmaking is still excellent, and Farrell leads a cast of strong performers. This story just lacks a fresh approach and bites when exploring a tale of addiction and spiraling. The overall narrative feels too safe in execution to dig deeper and in a more meaningful way.