Ballad of a Small Player

by Mike McGranaghan

Director Edward Berger follows up his Oscar nominated Conclave with the gambling drama Ballad of a Small Player. The two could not be more different in terms of subject matter, but both share a strong interest in the milieu of their respective worlds. That interest is the most effective aspect of this otherwise routine look at the gambling mindset, which we’ve seen depicted many times before.

Lord Doyle (Colin Farrell) is not really a lord. It’s a sophisticated character he’s created for himself as he gambles his way through Macau. More specifically, he goes on a massive losing streak in Macau. The constant boozing isn’t helping, nor is the presence of Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton), a private investigator sent to let him know the people to whom he owes money haven’t forgotten him. Doyle gets a possible chance at a comeback after meeting Dao Ming (Fala Chen), a casino employee who may be able to offer him a line of credit. First, though, he needs to convince her that he’s a reliable bet.

Ballad of a Small Player is lushly photographed by James Friend, the Oscar-winning cinematographer who also shot Berger’s All Quiet on the Western Front. The ornate design and bold colors of Macau’s casinos burst off the screen, immersing us fully into the scene and serving as an ironic counterpoint to Doyle’s deteriorating state. Scenes of Doyle playing baccarat possess extra energy because of how enveloped we feel by the setting.

Undermining that quality is the odd decision to have the actors pitch their performances at a slightly cartoonish level. The movie isn’t entirely realistic because the characters’ personalities are exaggerated. Imagine a Wes Anderson picture dialed down to a 3 or 4 and you’ll get the drift. That creates a scenario where we aren’t sure if we’re supposed to laugh at Doyle, take his dilemma seriously, or merely pity him. Other gambling stories, like Uncut Gems and Mississippi Grind, portray the addictive nature of the activity with a clearer vision, so that we know what they want us to think about their protagonists. This one muddies the water too much.

Doyle’s arc is additionally pretty standard. He’s on a losing streak, keeps thinking a big win is just around the corner, and spirals downward as the situation becomes increasingly desperate. We’ve already seen that onscreen, and the movie adds nothing new to it, aside from the Macau location. Colin Farrell works hard to show Lord Doyle’s pathetic nature and efforts at redemption, but the guy’s clichéd circumstance limits how far the actor can take things. Swinton, meanwhile, is saddled with a one-note character and the very good Chen doesn’t get enough scenes to thoroughly develop Dao Ming.

The Ballad of a Small Player isn’t terrible, nor is it distinct enough to captivate you. This is a largely generic gambling flick that just happens to rely on quirk over depth.

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