'Bullet Train' Feels Like Guy Ritchie Met Agatha Christie
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
Rated R
Action, thriller
Run time: 2 hr, 6 min
Directed by David Leitch
In theaters August 5, 2022
Yes, I know this has neither Guy Ritchie nor Agatha Christie affiliated with it, but stay with me here. Bullet Train has a star-studded cast, a few whodunnits, murders, intrigue, a story almost exclusively set on a piece of moving transportation, snarky one-liners and highly stylized visuals. Now tell me that doesn’t sound exactly like how I described this film in the title. I dare you. Despite me being fully aware that Ritchie was decidedly not the director of Bullet Train, a part of me was still surprised to not see his name in the credits. This action comedy fits into its release date nicely as a wrap up of blockbuster season. There are a few bigger movies coming out over the next month or two, but they look to bridge the gap between the huge-budget-summer-flicks and the holiday season that offers a mix of Oscar bait films and wide audience draws.
If you’ve seen the trailer, you know exactly what this movie is about. It doesn’t try to trick you. Brad Pitt is Ladybug, a man reentering a rather unsavory business, thinking his first foray back into the shady workforce is going to be a quick grab-and-drop gig. Unfortunately, he isn’t the only dangerous (despite his desperation not to hurt or kill anyone) person on this train. There are the “twins,” Lemon and Tangerine (Taylor-Johnson and Henry), the Prince (King) and a handful of others, including a desperate father (Koji) whose son had been pushed off a building and is in critical condition. This is where the Agatha Christie part comes into play. As an audience member, it’s obvious that there is something - or someone - pulling the strings to put all these people in one place. The real questions are who, and why?
While this isn’t the most universal opinion on this movie, I have to share that I viewed Bullet Train as my first film in a 4DX theater. It was one of the most unusual experiences I’ve had, especially when you think about the fact that this is a relatively standard action flick. Adding moving seats, puffs of air, the occasional splash of water and what felt like a very aggressive massage chair gone wrong made this theater visit unlike anything else. It added suspense and jump scares that weren’t previously present, and I was constantly mini-shrieking with shock and delight. I’m not sure if I would have been as invested and fully focused if the theater itself didn’t demand it of me. It did add another level to this story, and if you’ve ever considered giving it a shot, this may be the movie to try it out with. The action sequences are very well shot, extremely cinematic and excellently choreographed, so either way, a big screen is the way to go.
This movie isn’t necessarily something I’ll think about for a long time after viewing, and there’s a very real chance I’ll quickly forget all but the most striking details. However, that’s exactly what I expected. I wanted a fun, loud, funny action thriller, and that’s what I got. Brad Pitt has been used more and more for his comedic abilities (see his excellent role in The Lost City from earlier this year), and everyone around him had top notch timing as well. Joey King stuck out a bit to me as being the weak link in the ensemble, but that could have been more due to the inexplicable British accent she was using throughout. There are a few cameos that were absolutely perfect, adding another level of laugh-out-loud moments. It is a bit too long for my taste, and the wrapping up of everything in a neat bow felt contrived, but if you go in expecting exactly what they wish to offer you, you won’t be disappointed.