Bullet Train (2022) - Movie Review

Directed by David Leitch

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Bullet Train, directed by David Leitch (Deadpool 2, Violent Night) is a stylistic action comedy that is off the rails! (Just like the train itself!)

Taking place on a fast moving bullet train, the film follows five assassins, who are all trying to obtain the "macguffin", which in this case is a briefcase. It centres around 'Ladybug', an unlucky former hitman played by Brad Pitt, but also shows us the perspectives of the other characters on the train and their interactions with each other. It's a blast to watch the confrontational, somewhat claustrophobic action sequences ensue.

The movie has received mixed reviews since its release in early August 2022 and held its spot as the number one movie in the US for two weeks. It was a box office success, grossing $239 million worldwide on a budget of $90 million. Here's my take...

The film has a great aesthetic, with vibrant colours and a very fun vibe. This is strengthened by its unique directing and camera work, impressive cinematography by Jonathan Seal and good editing which keeps the fast pace of the film, even if this is only the case during the first two acts. During the third, it begins to drag and feels a little tedious - some parts definitely could have been cut e.g. our heroes waiting for the villains to board the train before the climax.

The movie delivers exposition throughout by giving us backstories through the form of a montage for nearly every character. This slows down the momentum and the action a little, but is necessary as it develops the characters and prevents them from feeling one-note. They are multi-dimensional and the audience understands them as people.

The cast is very talented, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree-Henry's chemistry being a joy to watch. The lead, Brad Pitt is great as always too and brings a lot of humour to his scenes. The movie finds villains in Joey King who plays the deceitful Prince as a character the viewer loves to hate, and her father, The White Death, is portrayed brilliantly by longtime actor Michael Shannon, who brings a lot of intrigue to this threatening character.

Brad Pitt & Bad Bunny in Bullet Train (2022)

The film is an adaptation of a book by the same name, written by Japanese author Kōtarō Isaka and was adapted into a screenplay by upcoming screenwriter Zak Olkewicz. This is an impressive work and a big feat for a screenwriter with such few credits.

The dialogue, particularly the banter between the characters makes you feel as though you're watching REAL people - it isn't forced. However, although the writing is good on the whole, there are many jokes that fell flat for me, and left me cringing. The humour was mixed.

The story translates well into film form, and the plot progresses rather naturally, although it is very complex at the beginning. (I was quite confused during the first act). The characters and their motivations are all made clear as the film continues and the pieces fall into place. I feel as though the movie is convoluted and messy at times and could certainly be improved by having more focus. This is a common pitfall for ensemble films. I believe that Bullet Train was too ambitious and struggled to stay on its trajectory, which ultimately ends up confusing the viewer and over-complicating the film.

Don't get me wrong, Bullet Train is a very fun ride that's flashy and is full of exciting, well-directed action sequences. I finished watching with a grin on my face, and it's very nice to see movies like this being made that aren't part of a large franchise and aren't trying to push an agenda or a message about society. Having said that, I can't help but feel that it's being held back by its messiness at the beginning and dreary stalling during the third act. I would recommend it as a fun viewing experience, although it isn't a perfect film by any means.

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Watch Bullet Train on Netflix