Longa adapts Lawrence Osborne’s book and explores the emotional and destructive consequences of gambling addiction.
Netflix has put it in the catalogue one of the most talked about psychological thrillers of 2025 and the movie quickly entered the Top 10 in Brazil! “Ballad of a Player” marks the return of Edward Berger to streaming after the impact of “Nothing New on the Front” and the repercussions of the “Conclave”. Here the director adapts the novel by Lawrence Osborne and dive into the world of Macau casinos to tell a story about addictionself-destruction and the illusion of control…
The protagonist is Lord Doyle, played by Colin Farrell. A former British lawyer, he destroyed his career and his own life by sinking into gambling and financial scandals. On the run from his creditors and himself, he settles in a luxury hotel in Macau believing (or pretending to believe) that he can still reverse the trend! Farrell’s performance is built on this unstable boundary: arrogance displayed on the outside, absolute desperation on the inside. Disheveled, see?
Two opposing forces surround the protagonist
The plot gains intensity when Doyle begins to be challenged (in very different ways) by two women who represent opposite paths!
Dao Ming (Chen speaks), casino employee, opens credit and becomes the presence of a possible cure, as if offering an alternative form of future. Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton) is a private investigator hired by British creditors and goes to great lengths to ensure he is punished. The film works precisely on this oscillation: hope for redemption versus the weight of the consequences…
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Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
