If Brad Pitt’s latest film, Bullet Train, feels more like a Deadpool sequel than a standalone movie, it’s probably because it was directed by Deadpool 2 director David Leitch. Like a hit superhero movie, Bullet Train boasts quirky comedy, quirky characters, and a complete disregard for logic. Both have attractive lead actors. However, it is in the coherent storyline that the Shinkansen is delayed. It’s missing one thing and partly doesn’t even try to use logic. Ultimately, this train wreck is elevated to watchable status thanks to an excellent job by an amazing cast, all doing their best.
Bullet Train’s premise is fairly simple. His five assassins on the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto realize that the quests may be interconnected and someone is pulling strings for the bigger game. Brad Pitt plays Ladybug, an ill-fated rent boy who’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. He’ll be joined by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry as Lemmon and Tangerine, who carry the sons of yakuza kingpins, and Joey King as the innocent and dangerous teenager Prince.Zazie Beetz , Michael Shannon, Andrew Koji, and Hiroyuki Sanada, and it looks like a delicious cocktail. Unfortunately, it’s a cocktail that’s too heavy and too messy for your senses.
The only thing that speaks to Shinkansen is its all-star cast: Brad Pitt is brilliant and effortless as the man who can’t rest. The script demonstrates his lack of luck very well. At the other end of the spectrum is Joey King’s character, who never fails. I am happy to see two actors. But the best part of the film is the lively chemistry between Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry as twins — their quarrels, partnerships and friendships bring the film to life.
However, it felt like the talented actor of Michael Shannon was wasted on the film, as he had little to do with the largely one-dimensional character. The film also faces accusations of whitewashing. This makes sense given that the characters in the original novel are all Japanese and are set entirely in Japan. In this movie, only one of the main characters is Japanese. There are no prizes for guessing the least amount of screen time. Perched atop an ivory tower called the Movie Studio, the suit is in serious need of a reality check. With Money Heist and Squid Game potentially becoming the most-watched web series in the world, there’s no need to force native tales to have American or British faces and names. When Scarlett Johansson was airdropped in Ghost in the Shell five years ago, it was bad enough… but today, she stubbornly refuses to see the changed landscape.
