Bullet Train Movie Review - Pulp Fiction on a Train that is Insane Gory Fun
The action comedy Bullet train is full of hilarious characters, exciting fight scenes, and (on rare occasions) shockingly sincere emotion. It is the result of packing a dozen of Hollywood's most endearing actors into a small area and armed them with the co-director of john Wick, a scathing script, eccentric characters, and a variety of incongruous items that also serve as impromptu weapons. Despite spending a lot of time pondering the nature of luck, fate, and self-determinism, the film never establishes a particularly meaningful theme, but Bullet train succeeds where it matters most: as a gorgeous and bloody parade of deft set-ups and audience-pleasing payoffs.
The protagonist of Bullet train, Ladybug (Brad Pitt), resumes her career as a snatch-and-grab criminal-for-hire following a protracted hiatus of introspection and anger control techniques. Ladybug is accused of entering one of Japan's high-speed trains to steal a briefcase while filling in for a colleague who was out with a stomach virus. Simple enough, but Ladybug soon finds out he's not the only hired asset on board. As the train speeds toward Kyoto, Ladybug gets into a series of fights as she tries to flee or figure out why someone would choose him and a group of lowlifes from the underworld to ride the same train.
Based on Ktar Isaka's Maria Beetle, a 2010 book, Bullet train was directed by David Leitch. Leitch is well-known for directing some of the most outrageous action movies of the past ten years, such as john Wick, Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde, and Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. He is comfortable with Bullet Train's main selling points, particularly the memorable action and witty dialogue. In many ways, Bullet train is an experience that prioritises style over substance at every turn, but to its credit, the film is so stylish that it's simple to overlook the fact that any words uttered by Leitch's characters are intended to sound cool, even when they pretend to be substantive, rather than to reveal something truly insightful.
In a similar vein, Joey king gives The prince a compelling performance. Chewing scenery, acting contrary to "girl next door" roles that many fans would recall her in, and recontextualizing (despite the presence of several darker turns king has delivered across her filmography). king helps The prince walk a very tight line, creating a character that is fully developed and credible rather than a hollow shell through which Bullet train could inject drama and conflict between improbable parties.
In the end, Bullet train is one of the most exciting and dazzling movies of 2022 because of the engaging performances, amazing combat setups, fashionable cinematography, and sharp writing. Leitch prioritises what he does best, and there's little doubt audiences expecting a crazy and funny thrill rush will leave highly happy even though the message isn't as profound as its protagonists may want.
Ratings: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟