A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Bikeriders” (2023) (from the London Film Festival).
Is “bikerider” a word? I really don’t think so! But that’s the title of this impressive new movie by Jeff Nichols, apparently decades in the gestation. Using an innovative technique, “Bikeriders” takes us inside the lives of a biker gang in the US Midwest (the movie was filmed in Cincinnati) during the period from 1965 to 1973.
This is another film seen at this year’s London Film Festival, ahead of its UK release in about 8 weeks time.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
A photographer (Mike Faist) is making an audio and photographic record of a biker gang called “The Vandals”. He interviews Kathy (Jodie Comer) who recounts the life and times of wild boy Benny (Austin Butler), Johnny (Tom Hardy), the leader of the gang, and some of the other gang members.
Certification:
UK: NR; US: NR. (This has not yet been rated by the BBFC or the MPA but I would expect it would be rated at least a ’15’/R for violence, language and drug use).
Talent:
Starring: Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Toby Wallace.
Directed by: Jeff Nichols.
Written by: Jeff Nichols.
Twitter Handle: #TheBikeriders.
Running Time: 1h 56m.
“The Leader of the Pack” .Tom Hardy as Johnny, the undisputed head of “The Vandals”. (Source: 20th Century Studios).
“The Bikeriders” Review:
Positives:
- The premise of the film – effectively the recounting of a diary of the photo shoot project – didn’t sound promising. But it worked very well.
- The acting from the ensemble cast is excellent. Some stand-outs for me:
- I spent the whole film marvelling at the actress playing Kathy. Right through to the end titles until her name came up… Jodie Comer. Man, I felt stupid! But she disappeared so completely into that role that I just didnt recognize her from Killing Eve, Free Guy, The Last Duel, Prima Facie or any of the other films or plays I’ve seen her in. A chameleon of the acting world… it’s an amazing talent. As Kathy she effortlessly goes from naive girl in a bar to ‘biker-girl’, all with a wicked mid-West accent: “I used to be respectable!” she rasps. The danger is that during the LFF I reach for my “Oscar nomination” label too many times (and the bucket is going to get very full!). But I’d nominate Comer for this.
- For me, Tom Hardy gives his best acting performance since “Legend” in 2015. Aping Marlon Brando in “The Wild One”, he walks a fine line between the ‘club’ organizer and family man and the violent mobster in a very believable way. There’s massive competition for the Best Actor/Supporting Actor Oscars this year, and Hardy might miss out, but I reckon he could be a contender.
- Austin Butler goes from one mean and moody pin-up (“Elvis”) to another with Benny. His opening shots look more James Dean than James Dean! It’s again an impressive performance. But he is given a lot less to do, compared to Hardy, other than looking mean, moody and magnificent! He’s most impressive in the “Never going to be me” exchange between Benny and Johnny…. a great bit of cinema.
- “Babyteeth” actor Toby Wallace is also impressive as “The Kid” who wants to muscle in on the leadership of the gang. (He has had a busy LFF, as he also had a key role in the excellent “The Royal Hotel” that I saw last week).
- I’d say that this is a must see for bike enthusiasts. Not since “Easy Rider” (which the film references at one point) have you been almost able to smell bike petrol fumes in the air.
Negatives:
- The film is VERY violent which will not be for some viewers. The poor girl I was sat next to in the screening didn’t like violence, “particularly anything related to limbs”. This was not a good film for her! She spend a lot of the film with her hands over her eyes!
- Johnny’s home life is only briefly glimpsed. To round out his character, it would have been nice to have spent a bit more time there.
Summary Thoughts on “The Bikeriders”
As you might tell from a film about a biker gang, this is a rough, tough film with a good dose of threat and violence included. It will make you cross about human beings at times. But it is also very enthralling and a recommended watch.
The Bikeriders is scheduled for a UK release on December 1st 2023.
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Trailer for “The Bikeriders”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SolhWny1zF4 .
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