Edward Berger is slowly becoming one of the strongest new voices in filmmaking. With his last two films, All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave, earning Best Picture nominations and winning Oscars in below-the-line categories, Berger has shown he shouldn’t be underestimated. While his newest film may not be the major Oscar contender like his last few films, Ballad of a Small Player continues to show Berger’s strengths as a filmmaker, delivering one of his most visually gorgeous films.

Ballad of a Small Player follows Lord Doyle, played by Colin Farrell, a gambler addict who is laying low in Macau after a series of debts start to catch up to him. During a gambling match in a Macau casino, Lord meets Dao Ming, a casino worker and loan shark who may be able to help him get out of debt. Lord is also dealing with Cynthia Blithe, played by Tilda Swinton, a private investigator who is attempting to catch Lord and confront him about his misdeeds.

Volker Bertelmann’s score immediately heightens the tension in the film’s opening sequences. Playing as Lord, he travels to the casino to gamble his money away; the grand brass score elevates the drama to epic proportions, making a simple game of cards feel like a life-or-death scenario. It plays loudly and aggressively, sometimes even overpowering the diegetic sound in the film. Although it is easy for a big score to de-dramatize the film and its story, Bertelmann’s score fits perfectly with the film’s ambitious storytelling.

Card games have been depicted in films forever, with Rounders and Mississippi Grind laying the foundation for how to make gambling feel cinematic. Ballad of a Small Player takes note from previous gambling films and perhaps delivers the most visually stunning card game sequences ever. Its vast use of color and the canted angle from cinematographer James Friend bring gravitas to each sequence. The editing also intensifies these scenes while conveying the characters’ uneasiness and lack of confidence during their games. Seeing groups of men and women stare at cards has never felt this tense, and that is because of the incredible filmmaking and direction from Edward Burger.

The cinematography doesn’t only stand out during the card games. Friend is working on a high caliber throughout the film, with its vivid imagery enhancing the idea of Lord’s disillusionment with his life and his attachment to Macau. The city never sleeps, almost like Las Vegas, where there is never a moment of peace and always something going on, and the camera captures it through a variety of wide shots. The cinematography not only brings life to ordinary circumstances but also conveys the film’s massive scope in ways many mid-budget films cannot.

Colin Farrell’s recent work on A Big Bold Beautiful Journey failed to show his incredible range as an actor, but he is back on his A-game for Ballad of a Small Player. Farrell portrays a deeply sad character, hidden behind his drive for success, in an extremely empathetic manner. Despite constantly making poor decisions, he grounds the character in a way that allows the audience to connect with his issues. Gambling may not be the number one issue surrounding humanity, but Farrell displays how extreme an issue it can be if it consumes someone.

Although Farrell’s compelling lead performance makes Lord Coyle a solid character to root for, the writing behind him lacks the nuance necessary for a fulfilling drama. The character lacks a distinct trait beyond his love of gambling, making it harder to care about his fate. He treats everyone around him like pawns, using them only to advance his dream life. Although this aspect of his character satisfyingly comes back to bite him later in the film, the journey there is difficult to relate to.

The writing as a whole is also quite underwhelming. The film attempts to be a more polished version of Uncut Gems, swiftly jumping between situations Lord finds himself in, but its melancholic pace lacks the energy to make for a worthwhile experience. Instead of feeling like a roller-coaster movie, it comes off as a series of sequences that lead to an extremely predictable ending. The entire film is about Lord coming to terms with his addiction, but because the audience is immediately made aware of how dire the issue is, every sequence leading up to his understanding feels like filler.

Ballad of a Small Player has a grand scope in its filmmaking, but the script can’t seem to balance its big moments with the more intimate ones, resulting in an inconsistent viewing experience overall. The movie will jump between an intense game in a casino to Lord pondering about his life at a poolside, and this back-and-forth makes for many jarring scene transitions. The film’s ending, however, strikes the best balance between big and small moments, representing the price of good fortune, but then the film dives deep into ambiguity that diminishes its impact, leaving a sour taste.

Although the film is littered with issues, Ballad of a Small Player is worth watching overall for its incredible filmmaking, Colin Farrell’s excellent lead performance, and its cinematic take on gambling. Edward Berger once again proves to be a director with a strong voice, but the script didn’t quite match his grandeur. It isn’t quite the royal flush, but it delivers a solid straight.

Ballad of a Small Player is now playing in select theaters and will stream on Netflix on October 29.

Rating: 6/10

Oscar Prospects:

None