Director: David Leitch
Starring: Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry
‘A Captivating Action Classic’
Not many actors in Hollywood have earned the recognition of Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Since his rise to stardom in the 2000’s, Taylor-Johnson has become a beloved icon. Whether it’s bold historical figures, superheroes facing dangers or courageous stunt performers, the actor has depicted many powerful characters. Arguably, Taylor-Johnson’s finest strength as an actor is his commitment. He’s one of those rare actors that has always poured his heart and soul into each and every role. Taylor-Johnson has never been afraid taking on risky roles by portraying complex characters that aren’t likeable. By his willingness to take risks in his career, the actor has transformed into a celebrated icon about whom viewers often care. A British icon with a powerful reputation, Taylor-Johnson has made unforgettable movies which audiences cherish. An icon in entertainment, the actor has been a powerful star with strong commitment. Shining a bright light in darkness, Taylor-Johnson has become a celebrated icon in the entertainment business. Throughout his enduring career, the actor has made several unforgettable movies which deserve to be talked about without any single doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Taylor-Johnson and admire all the movies that he has made in his career. However, “Bullet Train” is my favourite. Ever since its release in 2022, David Leitch’s movie has become a beloved action classic. Packed with breathtaking production-design, intense storytelling and phenomenal performances, it is one of the best action movies ever made in l history. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who embodies a gangster that seeks to retrieve a precious briefcase on a train. Ultimately, what makes “Bullet Train” a great action movie is its universal appeal. Unlike most action movies, it tackles strong themes which everyone would relate to. Although “Bullet Train” is a fantastic action movie, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from a lack of strong character development. Nevertheless, it offers exhilarating entrainment that fans of Aaron Taylor-Johnson will not be able to resist.
Set in Japan, “Bullet Train” follows an assassin embarking on a journey to retrieve a briefcase from a doomed train. Brad Pitt plays Ladybug, a skilled assassin that has hopes of achieving retirement. Ladybug’s dreams of retiring from a dangerous profession are destroyed when he is called back into action upon a train mission. Takes with retrieving a precious briefcase with contents that are dangerous, Ladybug seeks to achieve a job that’s adventurous. However, Ladybug’s hopes are threatened when he finds that he faces enemies on a scary train which is doomed to face disaster. As odds are stacked against his favour, Ladybug wonders whether it’s possible for him to survive a train enduring disaster. As things don’t go according to plan, Ladybug questions whether he would ever be able to accomplish challenging missions in the city of Japan.
David Leith has always been fascinated with lives of action heroes. A fantastic filmmaker, Leitch has always excelled at making action movies that capture stuntmen which endure disaster. His comic-book movie “Deadpool 2” captured the hardships comic-book heroes go through. With “Bullet Train”, however, he made his first action comedy set upon a train. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture pains faced by assassins seeking to survive upon a doomed rain but he succeeded tremendously. Using bold cinematography, Leitch captures an assassin embarking on a journey to save a doomed train facing tragedy. Visually, the film is a stunning feast for the eyes as gorgeous as trains where grim gangsters materialize. Letich effectively uses handheld cinematography to capture tensions endured by an assassin on a doomed train facing tragedy. For instance, the handles camerawork enhances the train fight scene. During this intense scene, Ladybug is attacked without warning by a Mexican crime lord on the train. One appreciates handheld camerawork capturing tension that assassins are facing. Shaky cinematography is a tricky technique to use in movies. Paul Greengrass’ “Captain Phillips” demonstrated that handheld camerawork elevates commemorated movies about terrifying hijackings. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through captivating visuals, Letich captures tensions which assassins on doomed trains are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Bullet Train” that deserves recognition is the production design. From a technical perspective, the movie is very well-made. Throughout the film, Leitch deftly uses production of the train to capture the lives of assassins facing tension. Inspired by Kenneth Branagh’s “Murder on the Orient Express”, Leitch effectively uses the set design of the train to capture the lives of assassins that decline. Leitch effectively uses the set-design of trains to create action sequences which are compelling. For instance, the set-design of the train enhances the briefcase action sequence. During this intense scene, Ladybug has a sharp fight with Tangerine on the train. One appreciates the production of the train capturing the lives of assassins that face tension. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Tyler Bates’ music is integral to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that passengers on doomed trains bear. Using captivating production-design, Leitch captures the lives of assassins on doomed trains facing a decline.
Storytelling is one of the primary reasons why “Bullet Train” is a captivating action classic which is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses sequences of silence to capture tensions faced by assassins on a grim train. Leitch’s screenwriting strength is his ability to capture tensions faced by grim assassins on a train through silence, Taking inspiration in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction”, Leitch successfully uses silence to capture the lives of gangsters facing violence. For instance, silence elevates the death scene. During this engaging scene, Lemon and Tangerine have a tense fight on a train when they disagree with each other. One admired sequences of silence capturing the hardships gangsters go through. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s “List” proved, silence elevates movies about the Holocaust. John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place” claimed silence elevates classic horror movies about silent survival. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through engrossing storytelling, Leitch captures tense hardships that assassins on commemorated trains are facing.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Brad Pitt delivers one of his best performances as Ladybug. Pitt first achieved appreciation for playing serious detectives in murder mysteries. With “Bullet Train”, however, he took upon his most comical role. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, funny and emotional in his most memorable role. It’s a role that gave the actor the rare chances to showcase aptitude for comedy that he hadn’t shown before in his career. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and resentment of an assassin that’s stuck on a doomed train. It’s a powerful performance from one of the greatest movie-stars working today.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is amazing as a cruel gangster that is stuck on a doomed train that faces destruction. Taylor-Johnson has often had an aptitude for playing action heroes in his career, and “Bullet Train” showcased his flair for performing stunts as an actor. Whether he is attacking an assassin on a disastrous train that’s frightening or grieving the tragic loss of his best friend, Taylor-Johnson uses powerful body language to create a gangster which is compelling. It’s a phenomenal performance by one of the most commemorated actors which is working today.
Finally, “Bullet Train” will earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing the tension of action heroes facing pain. Unlike most action movies, it tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. It discusses compelling themes such as identity, grief and trust which will resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be very familiar with Japanese culture to appreciate it. It delivers a meaningful message about trust which will resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Bullet Train” is one of those rare action films everyone will adore.
Although “Bullet Train” is a captivating action comedy, ultimately it isn’t a flawless movie. If there’s a minor drawback to the movie, it suffers from uneven pacing. Leitch’s decision to integrate subplots about ancient Japanese warriors into the movie is bold but doesn’t entirely work. Due to this faulty decision, scene capturing the White Death’s ancient origins aren’t as engaging as Ladybug’s journey to save a train facing destruction. Whereas these subplots of ancient martial arts warriors elevated Destin Daniel Cretton’s “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”, they feel out-of-place in this movie. Therefore, “Bullet Train” falters.
Nevertheless, fans of Aaron Taylor-Johnson will definitely appreciate “Bullet Train” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A captivating action classic, it honours an actor that has built a legacy which is iconic.
A captivating portrait of committed assassins that are dedicated to surviving on a catastrophic train, it’s a riveting reminder of an actor that has built a lasting legacy managed to gain a huge fan following through his abilities to portray complex characters facing pain that’s hard to explain whose memorable movies that have never lost their abilities to entertain are worth celebrating for their courage to go against the grain.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 