Netflix has just dropped the first trailer for “Ballad of a Small Player,” a visually lush psychological thriller that arrives just in time to spice up the fall season. Directed by Edward Berger (fresh off the acclaimed “Conclave”), the movie positions Colin Farrell at the center of a moody, sin-steeped world.
Farrell portrays a risk-taking gambler who finds himself adrift in the shadows of Macau, drinking and betting away his lifelines as debts close in around him. The movie will hit select theaters in the U.S. on October 15 and follow in the U.K. and Ireland on October 17, before making its official debut on Netflix for global streaming on October 29.
The debut footage shows the actor navigating risky decisions at poker tables and amid the opulence of high-end hotel suites. Set against the vibrant gambling world of Macau, this environment becomes the stage for the story, giving the protagonist a chance to turn his luck around.
"I may be out of puff, but I still have my balls," Farrell’s character declares in the teaser.
While this first teaser offers few lines of dialogue, Farrell’s portrayal of a man consumed by emotion and a relentless drive to win makes it clear that his obsession could carry the story from one high-stakes gamble to the next. Plus, I'm confident this thriller will have some pretty impressive cinematography, based on what we've seen already.
‘Ballad of a Small Player’ on Netflix — here’s what we know
Along with the release date and trailer, Netflix also dropped a longer 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” is adapted from Lawrence Osborne’s 2014 novel of the same name, a moody character study steeped in gambling, loneliness, and moral decay.
Joining Farrell on the neon-soaked casino floors is an impressive ensemble. The cast features Fala Chen as Dao Ming, Tilda Swinton as Cynthia Blithe, Deanie Ip, and Alex Jennings.
Dao Ming is a casino employee in Macau who becomes entangled with Lord Doyle, though her own secrets and motivations remain shrouded in mystery. Cynthia Blithe, a private investigator, is also on Doyle's trail, determined to confront him about his past and the debts he's trying to outrun.
For “Ballad of a Small Player,” Edward Berger assembled a skilled creative team to translate the story to the screen. Among them are two of his Oscar-winning collaborators from “All Quiet on the Western Front”: cinematographer James Friend and composer Volker Bertelmann. The production is supported by producers Mike Goodridge and Matthew James Wilkinson.
It’s encouraging to see Netflix continuing to give some of its movies a limited theatrical run before hitting the streaming service. Movies like “Ballad of a Small Player” are clearly crafted with such cinematic care (lush visuals, detailed production design, and atmospheric storytelling) that they truly benefit from being experienced on the big screen.
Streaming at home is convenient, but certain movies deserve the immersive scope and energy that only a theater can provide. Thankfully, it will arrive in U.S. theaters on October 15 in select cinemas, and in the U.K. and Ireland on October 17.
Stream "Ballad of a Small Player" on Netflix starting October 29.
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