Bullet Train

Starring: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Sandra Bullock, Bad Bunny, Logan Lerman, Zazie Beetz, Masi Oka, Ryan Reynolds (uncredited), Channing Tatum (uncredited)
Directed by: David Leitch
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller
2022

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A large group of assassins all converge on a single bullet train in Japan.

Review:

Tim: Man, I had a lot of fun with David Leitch's Bullet Train. Leitch has emerged as a must-see action film director. He still hasn't delivered a great movie, but John Wick and Deadpool 2 were close and Atomic Blonde was probably better than it should have been. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw was decent but disappointing (as you might expect the 9th film in a franchise and a spinoff that no one asked for might be). All this to say, he has a very good track record. Add Bullet Train to the almost-but-not-quite-great list. It's a booming success.

I loved how much fun this film was- it feels like that's always the chief objective. Yes, the story matters, character development is important, staying entertaining from beginning to end, but ultimately, this is just a fun film. We don't get nearly enough of these kinds of movies. I had a blast watching this movie from the opening scene to the end. The movie is wildly entertaining and it's hard not to grin as you're watching it. It's over-the-top in all the best ways. It pushes the boundaries of credulity, but never past the breaking point. You are more than happy to go along with all the coincidences because you get to see a Japanese bullet train filled with deadly assassins. What makes this film special is that you're not exactly sure what's going on- why are they all here? The central premise is simple, but it's part of a larger mystery that fuels the entire film. Yes, the movie itself is fun and entertaining, but you're genuinely curious to learn what it's all about. The film keeps you guessing until the very end.

Now, I do want to acknowledge a criticism I heard about this film- that it's a film based on a novel by a Japanese author, set in Japan, and most of the characters are not even Asian. I think this is a valid conversation to be had, although I understand the marketing perspective and wanting to fill the cast with big names and recognizable faces. It's sad that we don't have more Japanese actors and actresses who would be considered mega-stars or up-and-comers, but that's a whole other issue. This whole thing did bother me a bit, but I do want to start by highlighting Andrew Koji and Hiroyuki Sanada. I know Koji is British, but his father was Japanese and Sanada is a great Japanese actor. I'm not suggesting that the presence of these two in the cast makes up for the fact that most characters here aren't Asian, but I love that both men were in this film. I do desperately wish they had bigger roles. Koji was the best part of the disappointing Snake Eyes and I believe has immense talent as an actor. I loved him in that movie and I thought he was equally as effective here. I hope to see much more of him in the future. And, I can't stress how much I love Sanada. Yes, his role is too small, but he's incredible here. Sanada is a woefully underrated actor. I think I've loved his performances in just about everything I've seen him do. He's always relegated to the sidelines, but he immediately makes every movie better. His scenes here were excellent and I was glad he got more to do near the end of the film. It's further proof that Sanada needs to be cast constantly in movies- I know people don't immediately think of him (and most Americans have never heard of him), but he's a fantastic actor.

This movie is all about the cast, so let's continue. Whenever I think of Brad Pitt, I tend to think about his early movies where he wasn't a great actor. Those days are decades past and he's proven over and over that he is one of the all-time greats. I truly believe that. He's made so many great movies over the years. His performance here is excellent. He's believable as an action hero, but it's his vulnerability and comedic timing that really makes a difference here. He's so damn likable in this movie. Whether it's arguing on the phone, subverting expectations, accidentally killing someone, or flicking a booger, Pitt gives a dazzling performance that's funny before anything else. He pours so much energy and charisma into the role, it's impossible not to love him for this. This is such a good movie, but Pitt's role was essential. The movie has a lot going for it, but so much depended on Pitt's execution of this role. He does so flawlessly.

I really liked Aaron Taylor-Johnson here. I've been a big fan of him for awhile and I think he's barely tapped into what he's capable of as an actor. Similar to Pitt, he embraces the action side, but it's his comedy and his acting talent that really elevate his performance here. Taylor-Johnson is really funny in this film. I marveled at his ease and comfort delivering quite a range of emotions throughout this film. He might be an unsung hero of this film. I'm a big Brian Tyree Henry fan, too. From his breakout role on Atlanta to everything he's done since, there's nothing Henry can't do. The guy has serious range, impeccable comedic timing, and is an absolute delight throughout the course of this movie. He has this natural charisma that pulls your eye toward him. He was so funny and worked exceptionally well with Taylor-Johnson. I loved hearing Sandra Bullock's voice throughout the film and I (MINOR SPOILER) loved that we got to see her at the end. Her role is too small, but it was great. I also enjoyed getting to see Zazie Beetz. Her talent feels wasted in a too-small role, but she makes the movie better. I laughed at the uncredited cameos of Ryan Reynolds and Channing Tatum. They were ultimately pointless in the larger scheme of the film, but I did laugh. It also always makes me happy to see Masi Oka, although, again, a pointless role.

Now, there were two actors I struggled with. Joey King puts a lot into her performance, but something just felt off to me. I never felt comfortable with her performance. It felt like she was trying to do too much. The movie treats her like it can't believe how incredible she is. King is a good actress, but I just wasn't feeling her performance. The same felt true about Michael Shannon. He might just have been miscast in this role, but his presence felt disjointed and tacked on. He's fine in the delivery of his performance, but I could see many other actors being as good (maybe actually incorporating another Asian actor into this role would have helped?). As a whole, though, the cast is large, diverse, funny, and incredibly enjoyable.

David Leitch has this great ability to control tone and pace through his films. This movie is fairly relentless- it's an apt title, because the plot barrels forward like a bullet train. It's fast, frenetic, and barely pauses to take a gulp of breath. The movie throws so much up on screen- I won't even try to cover it all here. But, you have a fast-moving plot, a ton of characters, flashbacks galore, it's hectic and excellent and it holds your attention like few movies do these days.

Bullet Train does so much right. It keeps you invested in the mystery. You learn to love all the flawed, absurd characters. It's not especially predictable, as it routinely throws unexpected twists and subverts our expectations. It's ridiculous, but in the best way. It all results in one of the most fun rides you'll have in 2022.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: John Wick, Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde, Fury, Mr. and Mrs. Smith