Brad Pitt makes a fine entrance in Bullet Train, the latest action-comedy (with a heart!) from David Leitch (Deadpool 2). As “Staying Alive” starts playing, we see a pair of shoes making their way through the big city. Only instead of John Travolta’s shiny leather oxfords from Saturday Night Fever, we get a pair of plain white sneakers. And as below, so above: Pitt’s head is adorned with a thoroughly basic white bucket hat. Travolta’s Tony Manero was dead set on looking department-store sharp even when being sent to fetch a can of paint — you never know when you might meet a pretty lady out there on the street, and you’ll want to make a good impression.
Pitt’s Ladybug (his code name, because ladybugs are lucky) is past all that, rather like Pitt himself. There aren’t many movie stars who wear their movie-star good looks with such a casual air — almost bordering on contempt. It’s not just a willingness to play against handsome, whether it’s adopting a wandering eye in 12 Monkeys, or hiding behind a bad haircut and worse glasses in The Big Short. The attitude comes through even when he looks great. George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven: Yeah, I’m handsome, and I know it helps. Brad Pitt in Ocean’s Eleven: Yeah, I’m handsome. Who cares?
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