Plot: What’s it about?
I don’t like motorcycles. And, more to the point, I actually don’t like the kind of people who ride them. That’s right, my disdain for these two-wheeled monstrosities actually transcends the “sport” itself where I actually despise the people who choose to give their time to the “open road.” If I’ve not alienated enough people with my comments, bear in mind that this is only the second sentence of this review. There’s more to come. Having said that, I do try and keep an open mind when watching movies that are out of my comfort zone. This site has opened my eyes to all kinds of films and ones that I’d likely, naturally, gravitate away from. So when I received The Bikeriders, I had no idea what to expect other than immediately being turned off by the title. And the theme. But hey, life’s all about new things, so maybe there was more to this than met the eye.
Set in the late 60’s and early 70’s we find Danny (Mike Faist), a photographer who embeds himself in the Chicago Vandals. He interviews Kathy (Jodie Comer), someone who met the group out of sheer chance and ended up marrying one of its members – Benny (Austin Butler). She regales us of the story of how Johnny (Tom Hardy) established the gang, its rules and proceeded to grow the membership. Benny serves as his right-hand man. The film then chronicles the ups and downs of the gang where some violent run-ins with other gangs are showcased. Are there any other motorcycle gangs that don’t involve themselves in drugs and/or violence? I suppose that’s beside the point. The film chooses to tell the story from the point of view of Kathy. It’s a good choice as she’s an outsider and realizes how Benny will always put the gang first, the ride-or-die ethic and so forth.
I proclaimed in my introductory paragraph that I tried to go into this with an open mind and “seeing new things.” That was quickly replaced by me looking at my watch every few minutes wondering how much more of this film I was to be subjected to. I won’t say that it’s a “bad” movie by any means. Comer, Hardy and Butler are clearly very talented performers, but you can only put so much lipstick on a pig and call it “art.” Or, I guess, you can. I found myself not interested in the dynamic of the “gang” or “club” or whatever the hell they’re called and it wasn’t long before I just wanted the film to be over. I get that it’s highly-regarded (namely due to the performances of the lead trio of actors) but I just couldn’t allow myself to be immersed in this world. And, for lack of a better term, that’s too bad for me. I try to find something good about every film I watch and as I’ve said a few times, it’s the actors, but as far as the subject matter goes – I’d have had more fun watching paint dry.
Video: How’s it look?
Given my disassociation with the world of motorcycles, I’ve often wondered how (and, more the point, why) they dress the way they do. Is it too much to ask for them to wear a shirt and a pair of jeans or do they all feel the need to don a leather jacket with skulls/crosbones and other assorted patches? I guess (and hope) I’ll never know. That said, the 2.39:1 HEVC 4K image leaves nothing to the imagination, be it the unkempt hair, the perpetual five o’clock shadows or the dirt and debris on the outfits. With the film set in the late 60’s/early 70’s there’s a bit of a nostalgic vibe going on with the colors, it’s a bit muted and has more earthy tones to it. And that’s fine. What I disliked about the film wasn’t the way it was presented – it’s pretty glorious.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The purr of a motorcycle has never sounded better than it does in this Dolby Atmos track. Granted, there’s more to it than that, but I was pretty impressed at how amazingly good some of the scenes sounded. Couple that with the deep, gruff voices of the male stars and you’ve got a pretty decent soundtrack on your hands. The surrounds were particularly active, even at times when I thought they’d be drowned out. They weren’t. Atmos-enabled tracks are truly a wonder when they’re used effectively and this is a prime example.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Audio Commentary – If you read my comments on the film, you’ll understand why I didn’t want to invest another two hours of my life in the commentary track. But if you’re a fan of the film, then I’m sure Writer/Director Jeff Nichols’ track will leave you reeling.
- Johnny, Benny, & Kathy – From the accents to the attitude, we get to know the lead characters. We hear from the cast and producing team on how they took the personalities and environments from a book of photographs and brought a narrative to the big screen.
- The Era of The Bikeriders – Grab your leather jacket and gear up for a ride. This piece focuses on the authenticity that was captured by the brilliant production team who nailed the look, feel, and sound of the late 1960s Midwest.
- The Filmmaker’s Eye: Jeff Nichols – Go behind the lens with director Jeff Nichols as he shared his overall vision for the film, stylistic choices, and how he works with talent. Members of the ensemble cast along with producers chime in on the significance of working on a Jeff Nichols film.
The Bottom Line
The Bikeriders was a generally well-regarded film and, as much as I disliked it, there are some good performances to be found (namely in the top three actors). Universal’s disc, as per usual, both looks and sounds good and it’s got enough extras to warrant a purchase. If you want my copy – just ask.
