A Bullet Train travels quickly through Japan, and on board are five assassins, each having no idea that the others are about to play a massive role in their mission. As they each attempt to reach their goals, others will get in the way, people will die, and challenges that they could have never expected arise–making this one of the most interesting rides on a train in history. Guided by Ladybug (Brad Pitt) this story follows a series of faux pas and happy accidents that are sure to entertain.
In a film where the entire story takes place on a moving train, challenges can arise regarding cinematography and ensuring that viewers can see everything occurring throughout. Director of Photography Jonthan Sela finds ways to bring the entire project to life and create accessibility in tight spaces. Bullet Train is action packed, and rarely does a significant amount of time go by where high-octane action isn’t presented to viewers. Sela captures each and every detail, bringing this film to life with grace and efficiency–but even better, he does a wonderful job of presenting the action front and center, in a way that everyone is able to see. The fights and other action sequences become immersive, easy to absorb–and Bullet Train as a whole thrives as a result of what Sela is able to bring to the table.
Driven forward by a stellar cast, led by Pitt, Bullet Train introduces new characters at every turn–and every role is brought to life with vigor. The shining star of the film, however, is Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Tangerine). Taylor-Johnson has always done a wonderful job of conveying emotion, bringing comedy to life, and helping to create a series of action-based individuals. He’s headed films such as Kick-Ass and Godzilla, but I’m not sure that he’s ever seen himself in a role that requires so much of him. He’s funny, often being the catalyst for humor, superb in his ability to bring action to life, and the emotion that he constantly brings to the film allows for a beautiful balance throughout. Each and every person in Bullet Train does a spectacular job of bringing their characters to life, but, again, Taylor-Johnson manages to outshine them all–making every second of his screen time important and entertaining.
Director David Leitch is known for directing films such as Deadpool 2 and Atomic Blonde, so Bullet Train is right in his wheelhouse. Things are often vibrant and exaggerated, regularly leading to incredible fun. What Leitch also often finds in his films is colorful language–and the colorful language in Bullet Train creates suspense and hard-hitting comedy. The dialogue is used to cause viewers to ask “what’s next?’ and the often inappropriate words that transcend the entirety of the film made me laugh almost endlessly.
Viewers can see everything that plays out before them, but the sound adds another level of understanding, and it creates depth that extends from beginning to end. Simple sounds make their way to the forefront of Bullet Train, and they allow viewers to better understand everything that happens throughout the course of Bullet Train. With so many moving parts, it’s essential that Leitch and his team find unique ways to hold viewers’ attention, and the sound plays a profound role in how viewers receive the film as a whole.
Bullet Train is one of the unsung heroes of 2022. Did it ruffle feathers and make a splash at the awards ceremonies? Nope–but I can’t quite understand why beyond the fact that it wasn’t artsy like many of the major films last year. That’s not a knock at either Bullet Train or the rest of the field from last year, they just happen to exist on opposite ends of the cinematic spectrum. Bullet Train extends itself far beyond what I believe many had thought it could have, and every second of the action-packed thriller delivers on a high level.
Directed by David Leitch.
Written by Zak Olkewicz & Kôtarô Isaka.
Starring Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
Comments