Over the course of a decade, a Midwestern motorcycle club evolves from a gathering place for local outsiders to a sinister gang, threatening the original group's way of life.
Director: Jeff Nichols
Cast: Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Norman Reedus
Release Date: June 21, 2024
Genre: Crime, Drama
Rated R for language throughout, violence, some drug use and brief sexuality.
Runtime: 1h 56m
Review:
Jeff Nichols' The Bikeriders is an engaging motorcycle drama propelled by strong performances from Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy. Nichols film is set up like a classic tragedy with an air of nostalgia peppering the film's early acts as we follow the rise of the fictional motorcycle club. There are plenty of wonderfully framed long shots of motorcycles rumbling across the screen against picturesque backdrops. The club itself portrayed as a rough and tumble group that still has a sense of a moral code especially early on. Austin Butler serves as Nichols' idealized version of this long lost era but little more. Butler looks the part of the rebel without a cause although the story doesn't give him any depth or texture. His character is central to what amounts to a love triangle but he's a frustrating cypher that the script never really explores in any meaningful way. Jodie Comer, sporting a heavy Midwest accent, fares far better as the film's entry point. Comer's character is an independent spitfire who is dragged into this world via an undeniable attraction to Butler's Benny. Comer does an impressive job leading the film and giving her character an authentic sense of desperation as she tries to maintain her relationship alive in a tug a war between the club and Tom Hardy's Johnny. Hardy is perfectly suited as the club's grizzled president, bring his distinct intensity to the role. There's an air of sadness to his performance especially in the final act which brings an impressive amount of depth to his character in what is a fascinating turn. The supporting cast is made up of a series of familiar faces which sadly serve more as window dressing due to a decidedly light script with only Michael Shannon leaving a lasting impression. There's no denying that The Bikeriders has a distinct appeal mainly due to a pair of stellar performances but it could have been something truly special with a more nuanced script.
B
