Here we are, the best motorcycle film to hit theaters since “Wild Hogs.” Kidding of course.
The latest movie featuring motorcycle riders rumbling down the open road is a period piece drama centered on a Chicago-based club called the Vandals. The film is told from the perspective of Kathy (Jodie Comer), a woman narrates her experience marrying one of the club members and being around the group as it gained membership and began more illegal activity.
Her husband, Benny (Austin Butler), was one of the higher-ups in the group, behind its leader Johnny (Tom Hardy). The film explores how they and other core club members started the group and where it took their lives.
Crime dramas have been a staple of film throughout history, and “The Bikeriders” is the latest for the genre. However, rather than men in suits making high class deals in major metros, this film centers on leather-clad men on the open road.
It’s a more rugged entry for the genre and gives insight into a well-known but under-dramatized aspect of America in modern movie-making. Biker gangs are part of the nation’s cultural knowledge. Mention “Hells Angels” and most Americans can picture what you’re talking about.
Yet there hasn’t been a large scale drama film about the biker phenomenon in some time (though “Sons of Anarchy” filled that void on television). That is until now, with “The Bikeriders” arriving as an odyssey through the early days of biker gangs to fill that gap in the genre. Unfortunately it isn’t a game changer for the category.
Directed by Jeff Nichols, “The Bikeriders” is a rather pedestrian period crime picture. The premise certainly hooks one in at the start, plus the exploration of how a prominent biker club got started and eventually veered into criminality is compelling enough to see unfold.
But that’s all it really is, a big recap of what took place. The film was inspired by a book written by an author who spent time with the club, and he’s represented in the film as the person interviewing Kathy. As a result, the film starts to feel more like a companion dramatization to a documentary on the history of a motorcycle club.
It lacks a deeper perspective on the inner psyche of the biker characters, their rebellious nature and how uniquely American the groups are. Part of the reason the movie lacks this is the film’s choice of narrator.
In other prominent crime dramas, such as “Goodfellas” and “The Irishman,” the narrators are members of the gangs. They were right in the thick of it. Kathy, though, was a bystander, meaning there’s always a degree of separation to the club for the audience.
It also doesn’t help that Jodie Comer’s Kathy has a Midwestern accent so thick that it almost sounds comical. It was reminiscent of Frances McDormand’s Marge in “Fargo,” but that was purposely done in a tongue in cheek way as part of the film’s humor.
In “The Bikeriders,” Comer’s accent comes off as if it’s supposed to be taken straightforward. That’s not to say her overall performance is poor, she has some really strong scenes. However, her speech in much of the film is a detriment.
Tom Hardy’s accent feels more authentic, and he’s definitely right for the role. His character is a cool customer, one who’s intimidating and tough with a wild side, but also reserved and strategic. Hardy makes it all work, and he’s definitely a highlight of the film as one of the most compelling characters.
Butler also follows up his Oscar-winning work in “Elvis” with another strong performance. His character Benny is more of the silent-type who gets into fights and asks questions later, which Butler pulls off, but he also provides the character with a subtle vulnerability as he has some hesitations about the club and his place.
Nichols and his crew also deserve credit for creating a gritty, grungy aesthetic. There’s a “lived-in” feel to the whole flick, adding to its rugged, rough vibe. At the same time, the film doesn’t feel as cinematic as others in the genre, one wishes there was more style and flair in the editing and cinematography.
“The Bikeriders” is a film with some interesting characters portrayed with charisma, the look and feel is mostly on point, plus there’s an overarching origin story of Americana that keeps a viewer into what’s taking place. Yet it also leaves a person wanting a lot more. 3.5 out of 5.
Matthew Liedke on Film 