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A 'breathtaking' Netflix thriller from an acclaimed Oscar-winning director is now streaming on the platform. Ballad of A Small Player is now available to watch for all subscribers from today (October 29). This follows a very limited run at the cinemas and a debut at film festivals. According to the synopsis provided by the streamer , when his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler laying low in Macau encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation. Colin Farrell takes on the leading role of that gambler, named Lord Doyle. The movie is the latest project from filmmaker Edward Berger. Previously, the director helmed Oscar winners All Quiet On The Western Front as well as Conclave. He was even linked with the job of directing the next James Bond title thanks to the success of his previous work. It is an adaptation of the 2014 novel written by Lawrence Osborne. A number of reviews have already been shared online and it seems that the title has divided opinion online. At the time of writing, it has achieved an unwelcome rating of 54% on website Rotten Tomatoes. There are two main factors that most critics seem to agree on however, that the film looks impressive and the central performance is worth watching. Empire magazine's review claims: "Ballad Of A Small Player is breathtaking to look at. The bright lights and larger-than-life feel of Macau are rendered exquisitely through James Friend’s cinematography. The neon-drenched compositions are always inviting, and the vibrant score from Volker Bertelmann is propulsive. While it’s visually dazzling, its overwrought narrative can’t stick the landing." Another added: "It (the film) boasts an admirably unhinged performance by Colin Farrell." While another suggested: "This is a stylistic psychological thriller that delivers on multiple fronts." Someone else seemed to suggest no other actor would be able to make the film work as they penned: "Colin Farrell is one of those rare actors who is equally gifted as a character actor as he is a leading man and, in this movie, both of his capabilities come together." Not everyone is convinced though, as one reviewer declared the title does not live up to the director's previous work. They said: "Ballad of a Small Player is the first major misfire for Edward Berger as he continues to push his way into the mainstream of film culture." However, some fans who have managed to watch the film already are still finding reasons to recommend it to other users. One person, sharing their thoughts online, commented: "What a beautiful, rich, and engrossing film! There are so many layers of meaning and suspense they needed an actor like Colin Farrell to hold it all together, through all of the surreal shifts in the world that Doyle inhabits." They continued: "Stepping in and out of a human reality and a devilish one, alternately, his face alone conveyed the pain, torture, and hope brought on by sin, tragedy, and redemption. I believe this film will go on to become a classic, one study of the human condition, the battle between the angels of our best natures and the demons of our base and avaricious characters." Another person admitted: "Saw the twist coming, so only half a star off. Colin Farrell is a raw nerve in this, with his character’s blurry need for self-implosion redeemed by his capacity for change. If his world feels decadently claustrophobic when he is at his worst, just wait, the payoff is worth the slow burn." Ballad of a Small Player is streaming on Netflix.
