Inspired by photojournalist Danny Lyon’s iconic book documenting a motorcycle club in the 1960s and ’70s, Nichols crafts a cinematic narrative that resonates with the same episodic intensity and vivid cinematography as Lyon’s photo journal.
At the core of the narrative, the film is an unusual and compelling love triangle, anchored by Austin Butler’s devilishly commanding portrayal of the hot-tempered Benny. Competing for his attention are Kathy (Jodie Comer), his wife, and Johnny (Tom Hardy), the leader of the Vandals club. Butler’s focal power is emblematic of his star persona, a character type that echoes the "biker rebel" mythos Benny aspires to.
Although the titular gang of bike riders are led by two formidable performances by Austin Butler and Tom Hardy, the film is told from the perspective of Jodie Comer’s Kathy. From early, Nichols employs narration, freeze-frames, and flashbacks a la Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, a cinematic debt evident throughout the film.
The film can best be described as bold, successfully hitting many ambitious notes it sets out to achieve. It has a musical virtuosity evident in its soundtrack and sound editing and some amusingly persuasive accent choices in its compelling characters.
While it achieves great humorous moments, and emotionally devastating ones too, The Bikeriders could use a deeper introspective quality or cohesive central theme.
THE BIKERIDERS
Director: Jeff Nichols
Cast: Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Jodie Comer, Boyd Holbrook, Damon Herriman
Rating: (R13)
★★★+
