The Bikeriders, based on the book by Danny Lyon back in the 60s, goes through the life of a motorcycle gang called the Vandals, led by Johnny (Tom Hardy) and his star-studded co-stars in Austin Butler (Benny), Jodie Comer (Kathy), Michael Shannon (Zipco), Boyd Holbrook (Cal), Norman Reedus (Funny Sonny) and Mike Faist (Danny). Throughout the film, Jodie Comer walks us through the film by telling us a story about the gang’s drama, relationships, crimes, and overall life together. We learn the love, protection, popularity and honor that each member felt when wearing those branded leather jackets and watching them kick their feet on the bikes as they ride away in the sunset.
Among the cast members, I do have to admit that this, other than Venom, has been one of Tom Hardy’s best roles yet. The accent required to use, mixed with the honor and pride he carries around as the gang’s leader, is completely unmatched. Austin Butler, on the other hand, doesn’t use much of an accent and barely needs any lines in the film to understand his character. His facial expressions and behaviors throughout the movie are all you need from a man who bleeds so much aura as a biker and as tensions increase after certain actions done within the Vandals, he must inevitably choose between the biker gang or his wife. Jodie Comer’s role, who plays Austin’s wife, is somewhat different than what seemed advertised on the poster itself. Rather than her being a biker herself as well, her role may or may not surprise you, which has been the only rare upsetting part of the movie.
If you are a 60’s fan, you will love the music, the setting and the outfits. From the moment the movie starts until it ends, you get the feeling and idea of what you will get from watching it. When it comes to the action, the drama, and the storyline, Jeff Nichols, the director, does a great job bringing a moment in history back to life, displaying what the bike-riding gang, The Vandals, were all about.