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In 'Ballad of a Small Player,' Colin Farrell Plays a Gambler Under Pressure
Colin Farrell portrays a debt-ridden gambler in Macau casinos in Netflix’s adaptation of Lawrence Osborne’s novel, delivering a performance described as frenetic and emotionally intense.
Colin Farrell, 49, plays a flamboyant but desperate expat drowning in debt amid Macao casinos, and The Ballad of a Small Player is now streaming on Netflix.
Adapted from Lawrence Osborne's 2014 novel, the film features Rowan Joffé's screenplay and is directed by Edward Berger, known for Oscar-nominated adaptations.
Shot in Macao's real top hotels and casinos using the biggest suites, production faced disruptions as casino guests losing millions forced schedule changes.
The crew emerged battered and exhausted as Edward Berger pursued an intense, maximalist shoot with Colin Farrell leading from the front; Farrell said he was wrecked daily yet utterly fulfilled.
Farrell immersed himself in the script and character immersion, gorging on about 10,000 calories and playing a Bach organ piece on headphones that shaped the final scenes.