Bullet Train (2022) Movie Review
You probably know director David Leitch from his previous movies Atomic Blonde (2017) and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw (2019). Much like those two movies, Bullet Train is full of non-stop action packed sequences. We first meet an assassin, Ladybug (Brad Pitt), and it’s clear he’s gone through some soul searching recently (as much as someone who kills people for a living can do) as he discusses his new lease on life with his handler Maria (Sandra Bullock).
His first assignment back on the job is to retrieve a briefcase from a bullet train in Japan. However, there are two other entities who are also trying to get their hands on the briefcase. Brothers Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry) and Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) have been hired by a mysterious man named White Death (Michael Shannon) to safely escort his son home along with the briefcase. The third major player in the movie is The Prince (Joey King) whose ultimate motive is to obtain the briefcase, rig it with a bomb, and kill White Death. You can see by now that Ladybug is getting a lot more than he bargained for on this assignment.
The story gets a little convoluted with even more players and backstories than mentioned here. Little asides and flashbacks are commonplace as Leitch weaves together so many storylines it feels like you’re watching a season of Game of Thrones. Somehow the information overload still feels fun and fresh and much of that is due to the funny dialogue bits and snappy pace. Lemon and Tangerine provide a lot of comedic relief as they banter back and forth, mainly about Lemon’s obsession with Thomas the Train which is ridiculously hilarious. The movie is anchored by the reliable Brad Pitt who excels in this zany role of nice-guy assassin. You can’t help but root for him (personal feelings about Pitt aside) as he takes on each of the competing entities in his quest to complete the mission.
The action sequences are abundant but Leitch finds ways to keep them entertaining rather than droll. He accomplishes this by adding in bits of humor into each fight scene, with Pitt delivering most of the funny moments. It’ll remind you of old school Pitt from the Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen movies or even Burn After Reading. One thing about Pitt is that he’s good at being charming and likable and has a knack for combining violence with humor. This talent is on full display in Bullet Train and it makes for a fun watch.
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like action movies
2. You like Brad Pitt’s comedy skills
3. You like stories with a lot of moving parts
