Film Review: BULLET TRAIN (2022): Brad Pitt Stars in an Action Thriller That Makes Other Blockbusters Pale in Comparison

Bullet Train Review

Bullet Train (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by David Leitch, written by Zak Olkewicz and Kotaro Isaka and starring Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael Shannon, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Sandra Bullock, Bad Bunny, Logan Lerman, Zazie Beetz, Masi Oka, Karen Fukuhara, Minchi Murakami, Kaori Taketani, Jim Garrity and Channing Tatum.

Brad Pitt is back in action in the fast paced thrill ride, Bullet Train. This new picture, directed by David Leitch, has some Quentin Tarantino vibes but also stands on its own merits as a unique roller coaster ride that makes the majority of the summer’s other action pictures look rather anemic in some respects. That’s because Bullet Train never stops to take a breath and that’s a plus and a slight demerit, simultaneously. Leitch’s movie has so many twists, turns and tricks up its sleeve that it ultimately becomes a bit exhausting but by the picture’s ending, audience members wouldn’t want it any other way.

Brad Pitt plays “Ladybug” who, for a large portion of the movie, finds himself pursuing a suitcase on a fast moving train in order to fulfill a mission which the movie gleefully sets him on. Pitt’s character is seemingly unlucky. For example, he steps in a puddle of water at one point early on but as the movie progresses, luck is certainly on his side as he survives things nobody else his age would be able to withstand.

The picture is loaded with characters who are almost all interesting to watch even if they all don’t serve a lot of purpose in terms of plot development. There is also a poisonous snake which finds itself aboard the “bullet train,” referred to in the film’s title. The snake is the highlight of the movie and whenever I would ask myself, “what’s going on with that snake?” during the picture, Leitch popped in a scene of the snake slithering through the train. That’s the markings of a great movie. A director should remind you of what’s going on throughout the other sections of the train in a film like this as characters go through their hurdles and Leitch does that to perfection here.

Joey King plays a young female character known as “Prince” and King has never been better than in her work here which helps shed light on the other people populating the movie’s speeding train’s motivations. Prince’s unique characterization keeps the movie intriguing in its story line and we’re never quite sure which way her character (who has a certain agenda) will turn next. But, the picture is also partly the story of a father named Kimura (Andrew Koji) whose young son’s life hangs in the balance. To give details, though, would ruin the joy of watching the movie which is the way the scenes reveal one inane (but hugely entertaining) plot point right after the other.

When a character known as Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) reluctantly has the train doors shut in his face, he eventually jumps onto the train, trying to get back aboard in a preposterous scenario that the movie amazingly makes work. The real scene stealer on board this ride, though, is Brian Tyree Henry as Lemon, Tangerine’s “brother.” Henry curses up a storm but is wildly energetic keeping the pace of the movie pumping and when Lemon drinks a bottle of contaminated water, it makes for one of the most fun scenes in the picture.

I’ve been fairly vague about most of the plot of the picture but that’s a good thing because there are too many variations of the story line to reveal in a brief review like this. This is the type of movie that you just go see. It shifts back in time occasionally and that is something that is simply awesome about the film. Just when you think you don’t have enough information on a plot point, the movie will take you back and explain what you have just seen. That’s great film-making in motion, folks.

Brad Pitt is first-rate here. He is always charismatic in the roles he selects but this time, he’s an action hero to root for all throughout the entire movie. He’s more than properly supported with the likes of actors like Hiroyuki Sanada, Zazie Beetz, Bad Bunny and Michael Shannon, not to mention the voice of Sandra Bullock telling him what to do in key scenes. Beetz, in particular stands out, as a character known as “The Hornet” in a fight scene between her and Pitt that will have audiences on the edge of their seats. Admittedly, Shannon and Bullock are great talents but their roles don’t offer the opportunity for them to strut their Oscar-caliber talent, but who cares? The action here is simply, in a word, relentless. Tarantino fans take note, this movie will more than satisfy your cravings for “sophisticated” action.

Bullet Train would be nothing without the train of the movie’s title. It is a star in its own right. Much like the terrific cast, the technical precision of this movie is groundbreaking. That train, which takes its journey through Tokyo, is an excuse for all the action that takes place in the film to take flight.  Meanwhile, the comic elements are also noteworthy such as the inclusion of Channing Tatum as a passenger who cracks a couple of funny lines and has the ability to distract the viewer from all the other more important characters in the movie.

Stay put as the credits begin to roll for a mid-credits scene where you get more answers to questions that will be lingering on your mind as the movie reaches its action-packed ending which gives you the most bang for your buck at the movies this summer!

Bullet Train is nothing short of an action film movie-goer’s dream come true. Brad Pitt is an action movie star who, even at his age, can carry a movie and make you want to see him succeed. Some stars could have played this role and we wouldn’t have cared too much about what happens to them but in Pitt’s hands, Ladybug is a treat to watch and makes us laugh all throughout even in the most serious scenes of the film. This is one to see on the big screen.

Rating: 9.5/10

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