If you want to learn about the game of baccarat in the casino world of Macau, “Ballad of a Small Player” might be a good place to start. However, the movie fails to make those elements exciting, as the turgid narrative turns unforgivingly hostile, even with Colin Farrell doing solid work.

Film Details

Director: Edward Berger

Cast: Colin Farrell, Tilda Swinton, Deanie Ip, and Fala Chen

MPAA Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes

Available on Netflix

Review Rating: 5/10

Farrell plays Lord Doyle, an alcoholic, gambling addict living in a high-end Macau hotel. Daily, he rises from an uncertain slumber surrounded by the mounting debris of addiction. But after a shower and detailed grooming, he dons a flashy suit and ventures to the baccarat tables. He’s convinced that his bad luck w

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