‘Bullet train’ might just have you saying, “Don’t I know you?”

Set up for watching of "Bullet Train"
The Perfect setup

Have you ever found yourself simply scrolling down a monotonous mountain of films on your favourite streaming giant? Just going through the motions, hoping, praying, that something may catch your eye, pique your interest, genuinely excite you?

That is exactly the predicament I found myself in the other day, which is exactly when I came across a movie that felt like a vivid fever dream. Bullet Train, starring Brad Pitt.

This movie was only released two years ago, and yet all I could remember about the film was how whatever my original assumptions were, I was wrong. So, I decided to hit play and what followed was a series of laughter, excitement, stunning visuals, mixed musical arrangements, surprise appearances and a whole lot of, “Hey, Don’t I know you?”

Plot (8/10)

Bullet Train follows the story of a down-on-his-luck assassin (Brad Pitt) going by the moniker, Ladybug. The name itself, Ladybug, is a play on the character’s almost cosmic bad luck, which is paramount to the narrative of the film.

His objective; board a bullet train, retrieve an unaccompanied briefcase, and leave. Simple enough right? Wrong!

Along the way, he is accosted by a host of unfortunate situations. Twin hired guns, psychopathic schoolgirls, cartel enforcers, venomous snakes and even a Russia-headlined Yakuza.

All of these are a part of their own separate storylines within the main plot of the film, and whilst sounding like a cinematic jambalaya, every new addition is intricately woven in to work towards a great crescendo by its conclusion.

A man watching the film "Bullet Train" trying to keep up with the multiple plot lines at once
Viewer trying to keep up with the storyline

But, it’s not just the plot that makes Bullet Train such a mixed bag of enjoyment. Everything about the film is designed to allow the viewer to find something new with every watch.

Casting (8.5/10)

If one were just to look at the casting choice for Bullet Train one might have justification to expect one of the greatest pieces of cinema from the modern era. The Cast list reads like an All-star team of some of the most popular actors in recent memory. Yet, these Hollywood stars account for almost no screen time.

Below is a list of the notable names that appear in the film:

Together, these stars account for less than an hour of screen time in a film that spans over 2 hours. They serve more as side characters or even brief cameos whose purpose is to be killed off, or whose identity isn’t even known until the end of the movie in the cases of Bullock and Reynolds.

Apart from Brad Pitt, the only other well-known actors/actresses that have an extended screen time would be the pairing of Bryan Tyree Henson and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who has only recently burst into stardom and superstardom respectively, and Joey King, best known for her starring role in the ‘Kissing Booth’ Netflix trilogy.

However, the lack of focus placed on all these household names might actually add to the film.

The sheer amount of star cameos means that for almost the entirety of the film, the viewer is treated to a mixture of shock and wonder at the appearance of a new character, figuratively or even literally remarking, “Hey, I know them!”

The pairing of Taylor Johnson and Henson makes for a brilliant twin dynamic as they employ some witty British slang and banter to keep what is, in reality, a dark topic of assassinations and hired guns, light and almost comical.

Joey King manages to step out of the shadow cast by her previous starring in teenage romcoms and demonstrate her acting versatility by bringing to life a vengeful, sophisticated and conniving antagonist

Of course, Brad Pitt is Brad Pitt, as he portrays a sarcastic, optimistic pessimist who is not too unlike Pitt’s other hitman role in ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’.

Visuals (9/10)

“Bullet Train” could still have merits as a great film if one were to watch the entire movie on mute. I know, that’s quite a statement, but to see is to believe.

A bullet train resting at a station, similar to how stasions were represented in the film
What a Japanese Train station was modelled after in the film

Despite taking place almost entirely on one bullet train, the scenery of the film never appears dull or repetitive. Every compartment, every room, every stop is like a world of its own.

From the refined, sleek luxury associated with a first-class car, to the clean and colourful train stations and even a snowy mountaintop villa. All of these are accompanied by a myriad of colours and flashes designed to keep the audience engaged and the environment new

Costume choice is varied throughout the film, and both speak to the characters and provide a complimentary wardrobe to the film’s visual pallet. Ranging from 3 piece suits and waistcoats, Schoolgirl Attire, traditional Japanese yukata’s

The film heavily involves the use of fluorescent colours, something not often seen in a film outside of nightclubs or seedy downtown areas. The introduction of any new major character is accompanied by a classic fluorescent signage adorning their name, which only adds to the visual masterpiece.

One of Japans principle tourist and nightlife destinations, Dontonbori
Neon lettering similar to the adorning nameplates

But possibly the largest contribution to the stunning visual arrays is the fact that the movie was filmed using LED panels placed on both sides of the train set. This mixed with the director choosing to actually film during an entire trip from Tokyo to Kyoto meant that shots could be taken from multiple angles. The result, breathtaking.

Soundtrack (7.5/10)

Possibly the “weakest” part of Bullet Train is its accompanying soundtrack. This isn’t to say the soundtrack is in any way poor or lacklustre, it simply has to compete with some stunning visuals and an all-star cast.

Consisting of a majority of remakes of older songs, embued with a modern twist and flare

The music often serves as an audio representation of the setting or location. “La Despedida” is played during a flashback to the Mexican cartel

Another perfect example, the film opens with a Japanese remix of the hit Bee Gees classic, “Stayin Alive.” This introduced an interesting trend of Japanese remixes that are present throughout.

Japanese Remix of Bee Gees “Stayin Alive”

Probably the best track from the film is the most commonly reoccurring. ‘Kill Me Pretty’ by Tamio Okuda. The song itself serves as somewhat of a theme song for the real main protagonist of the film, and the 70’s rock vibe really adds to the “epicness” of the moment

“Kill Me Pretty” by Tamia Okuda
Final Thoughts

IMDB gave the film a rating of 7.3/10

Overall, Bullet Train won’t be winning any Oscars for breathtaking storytelling. It’s not a tear-jerker, it won’t fill you with rage and it won’t serve as an example of life’s perfect endings. It does, however, excel in exactly what it sets out to do. The film is utterly beautiful in terms of its visuals. The music is catchy, impactful, themed and will have you bopping along. The Plot weaves together an intricate web of stories and lives, ending in a satisfying climax, and the Star-Studded Cast will have you saying, “Hey, don’t I know you?”