Colin Farrell is center stage in Edward Berger‘s film adaption of Lawrence Osborne’s novel, Ballad of a Small Player. Tilda Swinton steals the show effortlessly for me, Jason Tobin and Anthony Wong are fantastic surprises, and Fala Chen demonstrates a maturity in screen presence and performance, but there’s no escaping the main character, his quest to improve his money situation, and his nearly perpetually open mouth.
When I wrote about the Kristen Stewart film Underwater, I remarked that there was a lot of mouth-breathing in the film. Well, Colin Farrell takes that title with deftly twitchy hands. It didn’t irritate me, but once I noticed it, I couldn’t stop focusing on it every time he wasn’t talking. As of 2025, he has just under seventy acting credits (of finished projects) to his name (including voiceover work). I estimate that I’ve only seen a dozen of his films. If you have seen at least thirty of his films, does he have a habit of not closing his mouth when he isn’t speaking?
I do not want to spoil anything for anyone who’s planning on watching this movie at the theatre or on Netflix because the way the story and themes present themselves must be enjoyed in the moment. The trailer doesn’t give much away, so if you’re undecided, check it out. Ballad of a Small Player is a beautifully filmed and fun cinematic experience. It makes me want to watch Three Thousand Years of Longing again on account of Tilda Swinton.
Pic creds: Youtube screengrabs
Sitting Pugs: Sports Movies 