VFX Artists Are Divided On Effects In Brad Pitt’s $239M Action Comedy Movie

Brad Pitt has 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 in A River Runs Through It, Legends of the Fall, Interview with the Vampire, Seven, and Fight Club – Pitt found further commercial success by starring in the Ocean’s trilogy of heist comedies. He further solidified his status as a leading man in blockbuster action movies like Troy, the action-comedy Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and World War Z.

In 2020, Pitt won his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as stuntman Cliff Booth in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He’s also received Oscar nominations for his performances in 12 Monkeys, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Moneyball. More recently, after a scene-stealing cameo in 2022’s The Lost City, Pitt starred in an action comedy that 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 effects in Bullet Train. Directed by David Leitch – whose credits also include John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw, and The Fall Guy – the 2022 action-comedy stars Brad Pitt as one of five assassins on board a speeding bullet train who find out that their respective missions conflict with one another. Bullet Train‘s cast also includes Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Benito A. Martínez Ocasio, and Sandra Bullock.

Brad Pitt’s Best Movies, Ranked

A-list Oscar winner Brad Pitt has built a career as a bona fide movie star, starring in modern classics like Fight Club and Ocean’s Eleven.

During a recent episode of Corridor Crew‘s “VFX Artists React” series, Sam Gorski, Jordan Allen, and Wren Weichman reacted to the action movie, specifically Bullet Train‘s ending scene 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 that 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’ Reaction Means For Bullet Train

The Action Movie Garnered Mixed Reactions

While Bullet Train‘s visual effects may appear uncanny at times, it’s a bold visual style that director David Leitch and company were absolutely aiming for. Bullet Train is based on a Japanese novel and is visually inspired by the aesthetics of Japanese cinema, melding a mix of martial arts and manga influences. The result is a striking visual style that may appear uncanny at moments, but is intentionally crafted and unapologetically experimental. However, it’s certainly not for everyone, as indicated by Bullet Train‘s mixed reviews.

Source: Corridor Crew