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Edward Berger’s Ballad of a Small Player Debuts on Netflix to Mixed Reviews

Early consensus cites a standout Farrell performance, striking craft, a thin, tonally uneven screenplay.

Overview

  • The film is now streaming globally on Netflix after festival stops at Telluride, Toronto and BFI London and a brief theatrical run.
  • Critics report a divided reception, with aggregated scores hovering in the mid‑50s on Rotten Tomatoes.
  • Colin Farrell’s turn as a Macau baccarat addict is broadly hailed as the movie’s strongest draw.
  • James Friend’s neon-soaked cinematography and Volker Bertelmann’s score earn consistent praise for atmosphere and style.
  • Many reviews fault the script for pacing and depth, point to an uneven shift into the supernatural, and note that there is an end‑credits scene.