Colin Farrell Gambles in Edward Berger’s 'The Ballad of a Small Player' — And This Might Be Berger’s Most Intriguing Shift Yet
Stylized noir in Macau marks a bold new chapter.
Keeping an eye on Edward Berger after All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave feels almost obligatory, so when news broke of his latest project, I couldn’t resist.
The Ballad of a Small Player, adapted from Lawrence Osborne’s novel by Rowan Joffe, casts Colin Farrell as a gambler lying low in Macau. The first trailer promises a lush, neon-drenched world of debts, ghosts and dangerous chance. Netflix rolls it out in cinemas October 15 before streaming on the 29th.
A Gambler in the Neon Glow
Farrell’s character drifts through Macau’s casinos until he meets a kindred spirit who might hold the key to redemption. Alongside him are Tilda Swinton, Fala Chen, Deannie Yip and Alex Jennings — an eclectic line-up that already feels electric. Isn’t it always more intriguing when such different actors collide on screen?
Berger’s Bold Detour
After the scale of All Quiet and the acclaim of Conclave, Berger could have stayed with prestige dramas. Instead, he reunites with Oscar-winning cinematographer James Friend to try something riskier.
From the trailer, it’s all rich colours and sleek shadows — a striking shift from the muted realism of war. And that’s what excites me most: a director gambling on himself.
