BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER
Starring: Colin Farrell, Fala Chen, Deanie Ip, Tilda Swinton, and Alex Jennings
Director: Edward Berger
NICK
Coming off of Conclave (my personal favourite film of TIFF 2024), director Edward Berger returns with Ballad of a Small Player, and it’s a big disappointment. Aside from giving Colin Farrell the stage for a reliably terrific performance and being a great showcase for Macau, the film feels kind of hollow. I understood the themes of addiction, temptation, and the search for fulfillment throughout, but the story gets muddled despite a strong and dynamic start. It finds its footing again for the conclusion, but it’s too little too late. Some heavy lifting by Farrell isn’t enough to salvage Berger’s misstep.
ADRIANO
With All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave, director Edward Berger was seemingly on a hot streak. Well, here's Ballad of a Small Player to effectively end that streak. Colin Farrell is terrific, but he can't save this obnoxiously empty film. Berger infused this with flair and style, but forgot to put in substance or anything meaningful beyond excessive depictions of addiction and a plot gimmick that comes with a twist you can instantly call. I can't even say the film's well-intentioned because the movie insists on leaving us in the dark on what its intention is.
QUENTIN
Though incredibly stylish and anchored by a committed and typically terrific performance from Colin Farrell, Ballad of a Small Player is simply too messy to be anything but a passing diversion, especially if you have a curiosity about Macau. I assume director Edward Berger’s intent was to demonstrate the chaos in Lord Doyle’s (Farrell) life by making everything on screen equally chaotic, from the genre hopping to the camera work; however, in execution, that lack of focus leaves viewers on an island with an awful character for no justifiable reason. It’s a hollow experience that left me with more questions than answers. Doyle’s suits, though? *chef’s kiss*
This film was reviewed by Nick, Adriano, and Quentin as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2025 Zurich Film Festival, respectively.