When David Leitch, the director of John Wick and Deadpool 2 takes over the excellent novel Maria Beetle by Japanese author Kotaro Isaka, it makes for a very intriguing film. If you add a 5-star cast in a closed-door atmosphere, you get the action movie of this summer 2022, uninhibited, delirious and totally assuming.
The Man on the Train
"Ladybug" hitman of his state is in full existential crisis. No more dangerous missions, no more conflicts, he chooses to refocus on simple missions. And that's good because his "referent" needs him to replace Carver on an easy operation: stealing a briefcase in the shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto. Nothing very complicated. This was without counting on the bad luck of ladybug. Indeed in the cars of this high-speed train is a collection of killers: mandarin and lemon two brothers renowned for their professional, the hornet an expert in poison, the wolf a henchman of the Mexican cartels. Add a father in search of revenge, a mysterious teenager and a venomous snake on the loose. 
The train of anxiety
The Bullet train project is based on a note of intent. Offer a closed door of action in the confined space of the shinkansen. On this point the film keeps all its promises. Indeed, the director and the screenwriters perfectly exploit the fascinating scenery of the train. Each wagon has its own identity and becomes a potential space for conflict. The protagonists will exploit the specific objects in very impressive jousts. Another remarkable element is the management of the exterior. The hero has several opportunities to get off the train and the story always finds a good reason to bring him back inside. Bullet Train also relies perfectly on the Japanese universe. First the shinkansen is magnified in many scenes highlighting its curves, its comfort, its modernism. Then several elements of Main Stream culture are integrated into the plot. We will remember the passage of the toilet or the "silent" wagon which becomes both a constraint and an asset for each killer. And all this is linked well thanks to a clever scenario that maintains 2 hours during the suspense, place of Chekhov's clever rifles and often manages to surprise us. 
When Tarantino meets Guy Ritchie and John Wick
David Leitch, stuntman behind the camera, has an innate sense of action. He knows perfectly how to stage and restore the fights, play with the scenery, the position of the bodies. He demonstrates in this film that his technique is improving because the confrontations are chiseled, original, very rhythmic. Despite the small size of the train, he manages to give amplitude to each of his scenes based on the reflections or the length of the cars. By not hesitating to slip winks to his previous films including John Wick. His film visually and narratively multiplies the tributes to Tarantino and Guy Ritchie. The quotes to the first are evident first of all by the dialogues where the actors evoke with detachment horrible moments or talk for hours on a children's cartoon. Then several scenes are inspired by Kill Bill 1 including the confrontation between Béatrix Kido and Vernita Green in the kitchen. The second inspiration is obviously Guy Ritchie and his characters of offbeat mobsters (The Gentlemen) that we find through the duo Citron-Mandarine. Bullet train also adopts the typical editing of Guy Ritchie's films: exploded narration, flashback and nervous sequence. 
Bullet train : actors at the top
David Leitch has summoned a luxury cast. Brad Pitt as a guest star; Bryan Tyree Henry, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bad Bunny, Michael Shannon in luxury supporting roles; Sandra Bullock, Ryan Renolds in cameo. To which are added excellent Japanese actors, Hiroyuki Sanada who we no longer present, Karen Fukuhara, the magnificent Kimiko of The Boys. And all its actors are having fun like crazy, it shows in every sequence. Brad Pitt is again irreproachable in his role as a pawn man in full therapy. We find this class that Tarantino magnified in Once upon a time in Hollywood and which allows the actor to transcend every scene of everyday life. Among the excellent supporting actors, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a real discovery. He radiates class, charisma and charm. It's a safe bet that this performance will open many doors for him. And his duet with Bryan Tyree Henry works totally playing on all the depth of the relationship in brother. Keeping its promises from start to finish, Bullet Train is this summer's crazy action comedy. A little nugget carried by a royal cast and a director more and more inspired. Find here other reviews on summer cinema releases.
