Bullet train (2022)

 


Genre: Action/Thriller     Time: 2 hours 6 mins        Director: David Leitch


Quick Summary: Ladybug is an unlucky assassin who's determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs has gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans as his latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe -- all with connected yet conflicting objectives -- on the world's fastest train.


If you want a film filled with shenanigans that constantly keep you mentally on your toes, this is the film for you.


I loved how quick pace this was, it really added to how frantic everything is. Its characters are very wild. All are either paid killers or otherwise violent individuals connected with the world of crime, and the majority either have grudges against one of the other characters or are the object of a grudge and trying to escape the consequences of past actions. Most of them are chatterboxes who will monologue at anyone who doesn't point a gun at their head and order them to shut up, and the tone mixes winking black comedy and poker-faced jokes. 

Pretty much all of the jokes landed with me, it is a very comedically enjoyable film. They're witty, and all have very good pacing. Every character bounces off each other, constantly coming back at each other with some humourous comment or some sort of verbal insult.



Brian Tree Henry (Playing Lemon) and Aaron Taylor Johnson (Playing Tangerine), absolutely carry this film. This is my favorite duo of this year. The chemistry between these two is amazing! Henry’s Lemon is a bit more of a thinker, he likes to work people out. Tangerine is clearly more of a flashy guy who likes using his fists. They are both clearly having lots of fun with their characters.

 Every character is so distinct and unique too, honestly, none of them are forgettable. The performances from everyone are so good, and really all do pinpoint the comic-like atmosphere they all bring. 

It is incredibly violent. There is no shying away from the gushing blood and the impossibly graphic deaths, but these moments are counterbalanced against the humor and the absurdity of events.

 The cinematography moves effectively between slow-motion tracking shots and real-time action, so that there’s never time to predict what might happen next, but plenty of time to appreciate the intricate choreography. The train carriages alternate between multiple color palettes that really bring out the comic-like style this film has. The bloodshed is a deep vermillion, spattering over cool blue walls and pale grey cubicles. It feels, at times, as if your eyes are flickering over the bars of a comic.


There are lots of mix-ups and misunderstandings, awkward pauses, and unbelievably bad luck along the way. The level of fun and violence match each other well, with neither intruding upon the other. It is really just pure good chaos that is so fun and entertaining to watch.

Honestly, go watch this right now. Yes, there are a lot of character backstories that get explained very quickly, and the pacing is super quick but that is just the perfected energy of Bullet Train, it is very easy to keep up with this high-ball film. 


10/10
  • "You put peace out in the world, you get peace back"

  • "He doesn’t need a reason to kill people like you. He needs a reason not to."

  • "Hurt people, hurt people"

  • "If you don’t control your fate, it will control you."


Comments