Last year audiences were thrilled by the fictionalized look at the inner workings of choosing a new pope in Conclave — one of the best movies of 2024, in our opinion — and now director Edward Berger is back with an offering for the 2025 movie calendar. Colin Farrell stars in Ballad of a Small Player as a gambling addict who’s offered a lifeline when it comes time to pay his debts, and critics have shared their views as the psychological thriller hits streaming.
Ballad of a Small Player saw a limited run in theaters before premiering on the Netflix schedule on October 29, so as it hits streaming, let’s see if this is one we’ll be adding to our watchlist. Jacob Oller of AV Club gives it a C, saying its gambling fable is “garish” and “clichéd,” while Farrell’s Lord Doyle is underdeveloped, forcing the actor to overcompensate. The critic continues:
