The Bikeriders Review: Unmasking the 1960s Motorcycle Subculture

The Bikeriders was released on 21 June 2023. The genre of this movie is crime and drama. The writer and director of this movie is Jeff Nichols. The sound mix of this movie is Dolby Digital. The runtime of this movie is 1 hour 56 minutes. The rating of this movie is violence, drug usage, the use of language and sexuality. 

The cast of “The Bikeriders” includes Jodie Comer as Kathy, Austin Butler as Benny, Tom Hardy as Johnny, Michael Shannon as Zipco, Mike Faist as Danny Lyon, Norman Reedus as Funny Sonny, Boyd Holbrook as Cal, Damon Herriman as Brucie, Beau Knapp as Wahoo, Emory Cohen as Cockroach, Karl Glusman as Corky, Toby Wallace as The Kid and Happy Anderson as Big Jack. 

Overview of ‘The Bikeriders’

"The Bikeriders" is a thrilling story about a fake biker gang in the 1960s Midwest. Based on cool photos by Danny Lyon. Kathy (Jodie Comer) is a tough Vandal, married to wild biker Benny (Austin Butler).

Over ten years, the Vandals started as fun-loving outsiders who love riding bikes. Johnny (Tom Hardy) is their leader. Kathy copes with Benny's wild side and competition for his attention with Johnny.

Life in the Vandals gets dangerous, turning the club into a darker gang. Kathy, Benny, and Johnny must choose loyalty to the club and each other.

Detailed Review of “The BikeRiders” 

"The Bikeriders" by Jeff Nichols is about a 1960s bike gang, inspired by Danny Lyon's photo book. It's not a real documentary but plays with the outlaw biker movie style from the 1950s and 60s.

Austin Butler is Benny, kind of like James Dean, showing a cool sense of freedom. The film goes back to a time before drugs and weapons, capturing a moment of innocence before things go bad. Jodie Comer, playing Kathy, gets caught up with the Chicago Vandals because she likes Benny.

A Melodramatic Journey Through the Gang's Rise and Decline

"The Bikeriders" focuses on a motorcycle gang in the 1960s. It captures the highs and lows of the gang with a nostalgic vibe. The film has too much extra stuff. For example, mood swings have been seen in it which makes the story full of confusing.

The storyline is a bit unclear in terms of its focus and mood. Director Nichols tries to find a balance between iconic visuals and Kathy's personal story, making the narrative a bit choppy. Nevertheless, the strong performances from Jodie Comer as Kathy and Tom Hardy as Johnny help compensate for these shortcomings.

The scenes portraying gang meetings are interesting but somewhat challenging to grasp. The main issue lies with the character Benny, portrayed by Austin Butler. Despite his cool appearance, the film doesn't dig into his character effectively, creating an imbalance compared to Kathy and Johnny.

Premiering at Telluride, Colorado "The Bikeriders" falls short despite its talented cast. The constant shift between the '70s and Kathy's memories doesn't thoroughly explore the relationship between Benny and Kathy. 

At times, the movie succeeds when it embraces a lighter tone, exploring themes of masculinity and the appeal of outlaw life. But it shows the bad side of motorcycle gangs too much, especially in a scene that might be hard for some people to watch.

Jodie Comer delivers a standout performance, but Austin Butler's Benny lacks depth due to the script. Tom Hardy injects some humour, providing a welcome break in an otherwise somewhat dull film.

Lost in Its Pursuit of an Epic Story

"The Bikeriders" tries to tell a big story. But it gets confused with extra stuff and doesn't pay enough attention to the characters. Unlike other movies, Nichols shows the motorcycle lifestyle before things get really bad.

The movie happens in Chicago, showing the Vandals as a group of friends, real and true to Lyon's photos and Nichols' idea. It reveals their world and makes the characters seem real, unlike typical movies.

The love story between Kathy and Benny is important, even if it could be more detailed. As the gang grows and becomes more risky, the story gets darker. Nichols isn't afraid to show the gang doing bad things, giving us a deep look at the consequences of a life full of rebellion.

 

In the end, "The Bikeriders" is a movie about a motorcycle gang growing and changing. It has a mix of old feelings, friendship, and the problems that come with a rebellious life. Even with some confusing parts, it does well in making these characters more like real people and gives a new view of outlaw bikers.

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