‘The Bikeriders’ Movie Review: Jeff Nichols Taps Into Another Era of American Masculinity and Violence
Photo from 20th Century Studios
From Jeff Nelson
Jeff Nichols is a filmmaker with a sensitivity to his characters that allows the audience to sink into their psyche. He once again brings this to The Bikeriders, navigating an era of boys’ clubs and freedom on the open road that has come and gone. Nichols’ keen fascination for his subject is palpable, but the story is missing a vital piece of the puzzle in pushing it to the next level.
The Bikeriders breathes life into a fictional story inspired by the 1967 book of the same name. Kathy (Jodie Comer) walks photographer Danny Lyon (Mike Faist) through her experiences over the course of a decade as a member of a motorcycle group called the Vandals. She marries a reckless member named Benny (Austin Butler), but she soon discovers that she’s in an ongoing war for his affection against the group leader, Johnny (Tom Hardy).
Nichols frames The Bikeriders with Kathy’s interview, providing narration that hops through passages of time in the group’s history. As a woman and a non-rider, she’s an outsider to the group and a lens through which we explore the group. Kathy is an empathetic point-of-view character, who initially develops an admiration for her husband’s lifestyle before his passions become at odds with their love. The interview format doesn’t entirely work, especially as the story begins to lean into events she wasn’t present to speak on.
On the flip side of Benny’s life is the Vandals group, which gains an alarming amount of power within the city, drawing riders from across the country to inquire about joining. This is a world of tough masculinity and the American Dream as defined by outsiders living on the fringe of Midwestern society. The theme of violence is prevalent, particularly as the Vandals continue to grow in size, erupting into something uncontrollably dangerous. However, Nichols balances the darkness with the warmth of Kathy and Johnny’s competing and differing love for Danny.
Comer is the beating heart of The Bikeriders, instilling Kathy’s resilience and softness simultaneously. Meanwhile, Butler brings a cool, suave nature to Benny that brilliantly contrasts with Hardy’s commanding sternness. Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Norman Reedus, Emory Cohen, and Karl Glusman fill in supporting roles, given varying amounts to do on screen, but there’s no question that this ensemble cast packs a punch.
Nichols successfully immerses us in this world thanks to the wonderful crafts at work. Erin Benach’s tremendous costume design gives an incredible amount of nuance to these characters, while the bombastic sound design builds the atmosphere of the motorcycles, placing the viewer at the center of the adrenaline rush.
The Bikeriders drifts along overly-conventional storytelling lines that lack a much-needed emotional punch, but Nichols’ world of outsiders is undeniably engrossing. Comer, Butler, and Hardy bring a sense of authenticity that allows these characters to blossom on the screen.
Rating: 3/5
The Bikeriders hits theaters on December 1st, 2023.
