It's been a while since we’ve been able to talk about some movies -- about four months now. Because of this, we’re talking about one of my favorite movies of 2022, Bullet Train, directed by David Leitch, known for directing Deadpool 2 (2018) and being an uncredited director for John Wick (2014). The movie also has an interesting cast list, including lead Brad Pitt (Ladybug), Aaron Taylor Johnson (Tangerine), Joey King (Prince), and Bad Bunny (Wolf).
One thing that I absolutely loved about the movie was its personality and style. The use of color theory along with the intentional camerawork, fast-paced dialogue, and quick character introductions with detailed backstories all added to the film's unique feel.
Despite coming off as a bloated action piece on the surface level, the movie is actually quite dialogue-based. When there is intense action, especially during the fight scenes in the first half of the movie, the action is incredibly well-choreographed and heightens the movie's comedic and fast-paced tone. Because of the context, the fights had to be compact and tight and the movie really delivers on this concept.
The characters were also pretty interesting, with the writers making a fun choice in pairing many off. Some of the best unique pairings include Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock’s “agent and their assistant on the phone” and Aaron Taylor Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry's “hitmen duo.” I especially loved the latter; their dynamic constantly had witty jokes.
One thing that I mention a lot is the soundtrack of a film. This movie had a killer soundtrack that played into its vibrant and fast-paced nature. Each track felt perfectly placed throughout the movie, adding to the intense action and the over-the-top twists.
While I found that the story continued to become more and more over the top as the film progressed, it didn’t come off as annoying or frustrating. Instead, it fell in line with the exaggerated nature of the rest of the movie, including the action-packed final act.
Overall, Bullet Train is a stylish, fun film. It's not some epically-written drama masterpiece, but it is a fun and sometimes goofy action flick. It’s just good enough to constantly keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat. For anyone with a Netflix account, if you haven't watched the movie, do it now. This snuck its way into my top 10 films of 2022, and honestly, it deserves it.