The Bikeriders - Movie Review
A period piece that is highlighted by its strong cast.
The Bikeriders’ biggest strength is that it is narrated by a character that is not a member of the rider's club. Jodie Comer's brilliant performance is a great narrative tool because it allows the audience to have an inside look at the riders, but at the same time maintains a level of separation and distance from them. This creates a very unique aura about them. You are not supposed to relate to them, but you are supposed to understand them. That is powerful.
Tom Hardy was the standout for me. He was fantastic and I found myself most emotionally attached to his character. Austin Butler was also great and the two of them had strong on-screen chemistry. The film is definitely worth a watch just because of that. In addition, the set design and costumes were top notch. Jeff Nichols beautifully captures that era of American mid-western culture. I have a feeling leather jackets are going to make a resurgence because of him. I even found myself doing a bit of reckless late-night shopping after watching this film.
At times, the film's pacing felt a bit off for me. I think the story could have been 15-20 minutes shorter. It is less about an overarching plot and more about showing you what the era was like. That is not a style for everyone. That said, the time we do get to spend with these characters highlights the surface level glamour yet deep-sided sadness that came with that kind of masculinity in the 1960's and 1970's. The Bikeriders is visually stunning and a very unique style of filmmaking. I recommend it as a nice summertime moviegoing experience.
The Bikeriders is in theaters today. You can check out all my other reviews at Blitz’s Backlot. I am not affiliated with any news outlets. These are just my honest, concise thoughts as a film and TV enthusiast. Hope you enjoyed!
