The Bikeriders (2024)

★★★1/2

Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders effectively deconstructs the rise and fall of a biker gang from one built on brotherhood to one of violence, with a compelling story and characters, as well as solid performances and cinematography across the board. When you cut through the heavy accents and burly attitudes, the film calmly reveals itself as a tender drama about a group of aimless men stuck in stasis, unable to forge a meaningful path. The film can be meandering, but also tragically endearing. The Bikeriders is a career-defining moment for Tom Hardy. His eyes are magic. And Austin Butler, well this is his equivalent of Ryan Gosling’s performance in Drive. But unfortunately, the film is a little unfocused and the character writing is so thin that while it was compelling, I didn’t ever emotionally connect to the film, and therefore did not care about the characters or story, leaving me a little disappointed. No one is going to accuse director Jeff Nichols of reinventing the wheel with this film. It’s a straightforward, down-the-barrel existential drama about a Midwestern biker gang’s last attempt at maintaining its way of life. It is a throwback film that could have come out in the 90s, mixing in a little bit of Goodfellas with Easy Rider. An all-around solid movie that I liked, but didn’t love.

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Film Info:

Premise: After a chance encounter, headstrong Kathy is drawn to Benny, member of Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals. As the club transforms into a dangerous underworld of violence, Benny must choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.

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Focus Features

Written & Directed by Jeff Nichols

Based on the photo-book by Danny Lyon

Cast: Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Norman Reedus

Runtime: 1hr 56min

Rating: 14A

Crime, Drama

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IMDb Rating: 7.0/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%

RT Audience Score: 74%

RT Critic Average: 6.9/10

RT Audience Average: 3.9/5

Metacritic Score: 70

CinemaScore: B

Letterboxd: 3.4/5

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Fun Fact: Jeff Nichols left A Quiet Place: Day One to make this movie.

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Trailer: