Bullet Train: An Eccentric Ensemble in a Crazy, Ultra-Violent Action Romp

A cluster of quirky criminals collide in messy missions and dynamite dialogue.

While watching Bullet Train, you might be reminded of movies such as Snatch. At the start, you might expect to see criminals engaging in action-packed crime with some quirky dialogues. However, interestingly, Bullet Train is nothing like the ordinary.

It comes from the mind of David Leitch, who has an amazing reputation for movies such as Hobbs and Shaw, Deadpool 2, and Atomic Blonde. This time, however, we are seeing Brad Pitt as the leading cast of the movie who is stuck on a speeding train.

The film is based on the 2010 novel, Bullet Train, by Kōtarō Isaka. It followed the story of Ladybug, which is more of a joke since he is “biblically” unlucky. He takes a bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto. His goal is to snatch a briefcase while he is at it.

It looks like a very simple job. So, what can really go wrong, right? His unseen handler (played by Sandra Bullock) assures him that there are no dangers involved. However, Ladybug ends up on the run against a number of killers with code names such as The Hornet, The Prince, The Wolf, and Tangerine and Lemon.

What was supposed to be a simple mission quickly turns into a dangerous game. All the foes of Brad Pitt aka the Ladybug come armed with deadly venom, knives, and guns. However, Ladybug had already opted to travel without a weapon. Would Ladybug be able to stick with his self-improvement philosophy and survive the train to Kyoto?

This sets up Brad Pitt for an amazing comedy-action role. Previously also, we have seen Brad Pitt in a comedy-action role. For instance, his work in The Lost City got a lot of acclaims. However, his role in Bullet Train is a lot more different and reminds us of some classic movies such as Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood and Fight Club.

It looks like the movie has got it right to the point. Pitt is made the center of attention in an ultra-violent but silly yet thrilling ride. The reveal of other characters in the movie would result in spoilers, so we will ignore that for now.

Prominent additions to the film include Brian Tyree Henry and Aaron-Tylor Johnson who play the role of “The Twins”. They form a team of assassins with the codenames Tangerine and Lemon. Both the assassins have a British accent. However, Johnson has a more polished look as compared to his partner in crime. On the other hand, Henry is more on the wilder end.

Bullet Train features a lot of action and banter that feels like a rapid-fire. Just like movies by Ritchie, Zak Olkewicz has successfully pulled off the formula. Several exchanges result in flashbacks that are fast-paced and go back to hours or years, as audiences get to see the complexity of the characters’ backstories. These flashbacks are fun at first, as they keep audiences hooked to their seats. However, as the film goes on, the flashbacks start to feel lame and stupid.

Two hours and six minutes in, the big finale is ready to hit and so Bullet Train begins slowing down. It might have been done purposely to allow the audiences to absorb all the information that they have been presented with. After all, the plot twists can be a lot to take at first.

However, as soon as the non-stop hijinks and stunts slow down, Bullet Train starts to feel boring. The physical comedy starts getting dumber as the movie reaches its climax. However, the film was never supposed to be sophisticated and was never intended to be so.

Nevertheless, the action sequences in Bullet Train are among the best of recent times. After all, David Leitch has mastered the art of throwing punches in more complex ways. In terms of the action sequences, the film may even surpass some of the most recently acclaimed releases such as Deadpool 2 and John Wick installments. Overall, the action sequences are cinematically stunning.

In the end, Bullet Train is a fun watch. Don’t expect it to be highly sophisticated, since the film is purposely designed to have a light mood with plenty of fast-paced action and lots quirky plot twists.