A ‘stunning’ Netflix thriller from a renowned Oscar-winning director is now available for streaming on the platform.
Ballad of A Small Player, a gripping new film, is now accessible to all subscribers as of today (October 29). This follows a limited cinema release and a premiere at various film festivals.
The synopsis provided by Netflix reveals that the story revolves around a high-stakes gambler hiding out in Macau. When his past and mounting debts start to haunt him, he encounters a kindred spirit who could be his only hope for redemption.
Colin Farrell stars as the gambler, known as Lord Doyle. This film is the latest venture from acclaimed filmmaker Edward Berger.
The director has previously helmed Oscar winners All Quiet On The Western Front and Conclave, reports the Mirror.
His successful track record even had him linked with directing the next James Bond instalment. The film is based on the 2014 novel penned by Lawrence Osborne.
Several reviews have already been posted online, and it appears that the film has sparked mixed reactions. At the time of writing, it holds a less than stellar rating of 54% on Rotten Tomatoes.
However, critics seem to agree on two main points: the film’s impressive visuals and the compelling central performance.
Empire magazine’s review states: “Ballad Of A Small Player is breathtaking to look at. The bright lights and larger-than-life feel of Macau are rendered exquisitely through James Friend’s cinematography. The neon-drenched compositions are always inviting, and the vibrant score from Volker Bertelmann is propulsive. While it’s visually dazzling, its overwrought narrative can’t stick the landing.”
Another critic remarked: “It (the film) boasts an admirably unhinged performance by Colin Farrell.”
Meanwhile, a different reviewer noted: “This is a stylistic psychological thriller that delivers on multiple fronts.”
One commentator appeared to believe no other performer could have pulled off the role, writing: “Colin Farrell is one of those rare actors who is equally gifted as a character actor as he is a leading man and, in this movie, both of his capabilities come together.”
However, not all critics were impressed, with one reviewer claiming the picture fails to match the director’s earlier achievements.
They commented: “Ballad of a Small Player is the first major misfire for Edward Berger as he continues to push his way into the mainstream of film culture.”
Nevertheless, some fans who have already had the chance to view the picture are still finding plenty of reasons to urge others to watch it.
One viewer, posting their review online, wrote: “What a beautiful, rich, and engrossing film! There are so many layers of meaning and suspense they needed an actor like Colin Farrell to hold it all together, through all of the surreal shifts in the world that Doyle inhabits.”
They added: “Stepping in and out of a human reality and a devilish one, alternately, his face alone conveyed the pain, torture, and hope brought on by sin, tragedy, and redemption. I believe this film will go on to become a classic, one study of the human condition, the battle between the angels of our best natures and the demons of our base and avaricious characters.”
Another viewer confessed: “Saw the twist coming, so only half a star off. Colin Farrell is a raw nerve in this, with his character’s blurry need for self-implosion redeemed by his capacity for change. If his world feels decadently claustrophobic when he is at his worst, just wait, the payoff is worth the slow burn.”
Ballad of a Small Player is streaming on Netflix.