Colin Farrell bets on himself in Edward Berger’s gambling drama, Ballad of a Small Player. But is Farrell’s character, the pompously named Lord Doyle, a safe bet? Buzz is beginning to build this awards season for the actor’s performance as the struggling gambler who is laying low in Macau, grappling with his vices, giving in to fantasy, and courting danger.
Edward Berger’s last two movies, All Quiet On the Western Front and Conclave, have combined for 17 Oscar nominations and 5 victories, with both finalists for Best Picture. For good reason, Netflix is high on Berger’s latest reaching similar heights.
Joining Farrell in the cast are Fala Chen as a casino employee and con artist, and Tilda Swinton as the private investigator in hot pursuit. Deannie Yip and Alex Jennings round out the cast.
The film is adapted by Rowan Joffé (The American) from Lawrence Osborne’s book.
SYNOPSIS: “Lord Doyle (Colin Farrell) is laying low in Macau – spending his days and nights on the casino floors, drinking heavily and gambling what little money he has left. Struggling to keep up with his fast-rising debts, he is offered a lifeline by the mysterious Dao Ming (Fala Chen), a casino employee with secrets of her own.
However, in hot pursuit is Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton) – a private investigator ready to confront Doyle with what he is running from. As Doyle tries to climb to salvation, the confines of reality start to close in.”
Ballad of a Small Player opens in select theaters October 15th, followed by Netflix on October 29th. You can find my early review here.
