Brad Pitt leads a wickedly funny ensemble in a high-octane actioner loaded with twists. Adapted from the 2010 Japanese novel by Kōtarō Isaka, Bullet Train has a bevy of disparate assassins manipulated by a mysterious criminal mastermind. Stuntman turned action director, David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde), stays true to form with unrelenting bloody and flamboyant violence. The codenamed characters get downright verbose before beating, stabbing, and shooting each other to bits. The loquacious banter tends to run long, but the narrative always bounces back with sharp reveals. Strap in for a helluva ride.
Ladybug (Pitt) boards the overnight bullet train to Tokyo with a newfound sense of self. He's chock-full of philosophy after recovering from a near fatal ambush. Ladybug ignores his unseen handler's advice to take a gun. Surely any issues can be resolved peacefully. The job seems straightforward enough. Steal a briefcase with a sticker and exit at the next stop.
Also on board are Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry) and Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), ruthless "twins" known for their brutal methods. Lemon is obsessed with the British children's show "Thomas & Friends". He reads people by comparing them to the anthropomorphized trains. The twins are escorting the previously kidnapped son (Logan Lerman) of a powerful gangster, the White Death (Michael Shannon).
None of the hired guns are aware of the Father, aka Yuichi Kimura's (Andrew Koji), mission. He's out for vengeance but foolishly runs into a deceptive figure. The Prince (Joey King) has a score to settle with the White Death. Meanwhile, the Wolf (Bad Bunny) joins the fray after his truly horrific Mexican wedding. He's also ready for serious comeuppance. Ladybug quickly realizes they're all unwitting pawns in a dangerous game. Someone has packed the train with killers for an unknown purpose. He desperately wants to get off but can't seem to escape the carnage.
Cast of Bullet Train
Bullet Train introduces the cast with splashy entrances that flashes back to their dark pasts. The murderous montages are informative but don't fill in every gap. The script doles out more critical information as the bodies pile up. Alliances bounce back and forth as everyone wonders who's actually pulling the strings. The whodunit element works well as the audience becomes embroiled in a series of betrayals. You don't have a sense of the plot's true trajectory until the third act. The film builds to a showdown that delivers a huge action payoff.
Bullet Train has complex characters that each contribute slices of devilish humor. Brad Pitt preaching self-help and understanding is an effective gag throughout. Brian Tyree Henry's constant comparisons to Thomas & Friends aren't as comical but play an important role in the story. There are a lot of moving parts. Leitch, who worked as Pitt's stunt double for years, is clearly fond of his players. He gives everyone a chance to babble incessantly. I would have trimmed the dialogue to be more incisive.
The action scenes are worth the price of admission. Leitch has a great eye for mixing stylized set pieces with intimate fights. He knows when to go big and small. You never feel let down by his pacing. There's always the right amount of adrenaline to keep your pulse pumping. Bullet Train is another feather in a skilled filmmaker's cap. Watch out for A-list cameos and a mid-credits scene.
Bullet Train is a production of Columbia Pictures, Fuqua Films, and 87North Productions. It will be released theatrically on August 5th from Sony Pictures.