When does a gambling habit become a gambling problem? Is it when you’re down to your last wadded-up banknote, which you keep stuffed in your sock till all else has been spent? Or maybe it’s that extreme moment you’re forced to fake your own death, just to throw off your creditors. Surely things have gotten out of hand when the British government sends a private detective (who looks an awful lot like Tilda Swinton) all the way to Macau to collect the fortune you swindled from an unsuspecting old lady to subsidize your addiction.

In “ Ballad of a Small Player ,” Colin Farrell is a reckless high-roller, all flop sweat and false bravado, who’s taken up residence in a decadent Chinese casino hotel. He has three days to settle his HK$145,000 hotel bill, or else they turn him over the authorit

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