Ballad of a Small Player (2025; D: Edward Berger) S: Farrell, Chen, Ip, Swinton -- Netflix
08-19-25 | 09:18 AM
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From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
Ballad of a Small Player (2025; D: Edward Berger) S: Farrell, Chen, Ip, Swinton -- Netflix
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 directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet On The Western Front, Conclave) and stars Colin Farrell, Fala Chen, Deanie Ip, Alex Jennings and Tilda Swinton.
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 directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet On The Western Front, Conclave) and stars Colin Farrell, Fala Chen, Deanie Ip, Alex Jennings and Tilda Swinton.
08-19-25 | 06:27 PM
#2
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Re: Ballad of a Small Player (2025; D: Edward Berger) S: Farrell, Chen, Ip, Swinton -- Netflix
Very cool to see Hong Kong legend Deanie Ip at the table with Farrell at the beginning and end of the trailer. She’s been MIA since 2017. I figured she might have retired but then a lot of people thought that when she went off screens circa 2000 for nearly 11 years and claimed people just didn’t offer her stuff anymore. Maybe it was similar circumstances these past eight years as well, but it’s nice to see her in what seems like a showy role (though who knows how big). If I was to see this at TIFF – which I probably won’t as it’s basically being given a token theatrical release before being buried on Netflix – I’d be tempted to ask who had the idea of casting her. One of the producers is Chinese so I’d lean toward him, but it would be cool to discover that Edward Berger or Rowan Joffe were somehow fans of golden-era Hong Kong cinema where she flourished.
(cool to hear a famous porn star singing her one hit wonder in the trailer too
)
(cool to hear a famous porn star singing her one hit wonder in the trailer too
)
08-20-25 | 08:42 PM
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Re: Ballad of a Small Player (2025; D: Edward Berger) S: Farrell, Chen, Ip, Swinton -- Netflix
This looks great!
10-07-25 | 09:38 AM
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From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
Re: Ballad of a Small Player (2025; D: Edward Berger) S: Farrell, Chen, Ip, Swinton -- Netflix
10-29-25 | 03:23 AM
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Re: Ballad of a Small Player (2025; D: Edward Berger) S: Farrell, Chen, Ip, Swinton -- Netflix
On Netflix starting today
I have not seen it but hope he finally gets a Oscar if this is that magical role.
I have not seen it but hope he finally gets a Oscar if this is that magical role.
11-19-25 | 02:41 AM
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Re: Ballad of a Small Player (2025; D: Edward Berger) S: Farrell, Chen, Ip, Swinton -- Netflix
I saw this last week and one lf Colin's best performances in a long line of memorable roles.
11-19-25 | 08:27 AM
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Re: Ballad of a Small Player (2025; D: Edward Berger) S: Farrell, Chen, Ip, Swinton -- Netflix
