Brad Pitthas been a consistent presence in blockbuster action comedies for the better part of the past two decades. After rising to fame for dramatic roles during the 1990s – such as inA River Runs Through It,Legends of the Fall,Interview with the Vampire,Seven, andFight Club– Pitt found further commercial success by starring in theOcean’strilogyof heist comedies. He further solidified his status as a leading man in blockbuster action movies likeTroy, the action-comedyMr. & Mrs. Smith, andWorld War Z.
In 2020, Pitt won his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as stuntman Cliff Booth in Quentin Tarantino’sOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood. He’s also received Oscar nominations for his performances in12 Monkeys,The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, andMoneyball. More recently, after a scene-stealing cameo in 2022’sThe Lost City,Pitt starred in an action comedythat made over $239 million at the box office, but has received some mixed reactions for its visual effects.
Bullet Train Divides VFX Artists
The Film Was Featured On “VFX Artists React”
VFX artists are divided on the visual effects inBullet Train. Directed by David Leitch – whose credits also includeJohn Wick,Atomic Blonde,Deadpool 2,Hobbs & Shaw, andThe Fall Guy–the 2022 action-comedy stars Brad Pitt as one of five assassinson board a speeding bullet train who find out that their respective missions conflict with one another. Based on the Japanese novel by Kōtarō Isaka,Bullet Train’s castalso includes Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Benito A. Martínez Ocasio, and Sandra Bullock.
Bullet Train’s Easter Eggs & References Explained
A fun, star-studded spin on the action genre, Bullet Train features various Easter Eggs and references to different franchises and properties.
During a recent episode ofCorridor Crew’s “VFX Artists React” series,Sam Gorski, Jordan Allen, and Wren Weichman reacted to the action movie, specificallyBullet Train’s endingscene as Brad Pitt floats through the train in zero gravity. Weichman said there is “a little bit of uncanniness going on, but it also looks very good.” They went on to discuss how much of the scene is real and how much is computer-generated. Read a portion of their comments or watch the entire section of the video below:
Weichman: There’s a surrealness to it all, but there’s also so much kinetic energy that it works… there’s a little bit of uncanniness going on, but it also looks very good so I’m wondering how much of him is real versus how much is CG replacement.
What The VFX Artists' Reactions Mean For Bullet Train
Bullet Trainreceived mixed reviewsupon its release in 2022.Critics praised the fast-paced actionand vibrant characters, but didn’t consider them nearly enough to sustain the excitement when the story loses momentum. There was also some criticism of race-swapping and whitewashing the characters, including the casting of non-Asian actors, such as Brad Pitt and Joey King, as the characters Ladybug and The Prince, who were Japanese in Kōtarō Isaka’s novel.
Based on
2h 7m
$85.9–90 million
$239.3 million
53%
RT Audience Score
76%
As a result, the movie has a middling 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but a much stronger 76% audience score, as viewers thoughtBullet Trainstill serves as an enjoyable distraction for those seeking a decent thriller to pass the time, even though it falls short of being a truly thrilling ride.Bullet Trainwas also received warmly at the box office, opening to $30 million in August 2022 and making $13 million in its second weekend, finishing first both times. It ended its run with $103 million domestically and $135 million internationally for a grand total of $239 million worldwide against its approximately $90 million budget.
Our Take On Bullet Train’s Visual Effects
Its Uncanny Look Is Intentional
VFX artist Wren Weichman’s reaction highlights howBullet Traincan look a bit uncanny, but overall, it looks very good. This uncanniness was certainly not an accident or the result of bad visual effects – it’s a bold visual style thatdirector David Leitchand company were absolutely aiming for.Bullet Trainis based on the 2010 novel,Maria Beetle, which is part of Kōtarō Isaka’s series that was previously adapted into the 2015 Japanese filmGrasshopper.
Bullet Trainis visually inspired by the aesthetics of Japanese cinema, melding a mix of martial arts and manga influences.
In turn,Bullet Trainis visually inspired by the aesthetics of Japanese cinema, melding a mix of martial arts and manga influences. Its hyper-stylized cinematography certainly evokes anime and manga, amplifying the over-the-top tone that Leitch was aiming for, reminiscent of Takashi Miike and anime adaptations. Though the visual effects may appear uncanny at times, it’s a striking visual style that is intentionally crafted and unapologetically experimental. However, it’s certainly not for everyone, as indicated by the mixed reactions toBullet Train.
