Rating: Full

Genre: Drama, Crime

Studios: Focus Features/Regency Enterprises

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

Director: Jeff Nichols

Writer: Jeff Nichols

Based on: the photo book by Danny Lyon

Producers: Sarah Green, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Arnon Milchan

Music by: David Wingo

Rated: R for language throughout, violence, some drug use and brief sexuality

Release Date: 06/21/24

Runtime: 1h 56m

Tagline: Freedom is for the fearless

Favorite Character: Benny Cross

Quote: N/A

Fun Fact: The tattoos on Austin Butler’s Benny looked so real but aren’t. But the interviewer also thought it was real and asked him about it.

The Review: We may heard of films based on books, real life events, plays, etc. But I haven’t heard of a movie based on the photographs. That is until 21 years ago, when writer and director Joe Nicolas decides to read some of Danny Lyon’s photography book that filled with not just photos of one of the Chicago’s biker gang but also him interviewing them as well.

And then, it was 2022 when Nicolas finally, (I mean FINALLY) has a chance to make that authentic film a reality. Fortunally, he does not leave Lyon out of the film as he is a important character, being Kathy Bauer (Jodie Comer) assistant and all. He is played by Challenger’s Mike Faist.

You may be surprised to see the film first focuses on Kathy interviewing the motorcycle riders in a bar while they do some of stuff you normally see them do. Drink, play pool, hit on ladies, etc. Kathy became lucky when she stumbled upon a biker that has quite a hairdo. That biker, named Benny Cross (Austin Butler) isn’t really much of a big talker. Despite that, he marrys Kathy Five weeks later after she ditches her asshole boyfriend, becoming Kathy Cross.

There is actually one more great main character to meet, a tough talking leader of the Vandals Motorcycle Club, Johnny Davis (Tom Hardy). We do get to see the origin of the Vandals, or at least an inspiration of it. Johnny was sitting at home with his family watching The Wild One, a 1953 movie starring Marlon Brando which is also about, you guess it, a motorcycle biker.

We met the three main characters, now the drama commences, sorta. The most dramatic moment during the 1965 scenes was when Benny comes out of the bar and get into the argument with a couple of non-Vandals that ended very ugly! One of them actually stabbed Benny in his foot with a shovel! Ouch. The rest of the shots in that year just goes with on with them partaking some of the biker activities like a motorcycle rally. It doesn’t go too big on the seriousness until we get time jumped to 1973, then not only it gets very serious, but really dangerous too.

People come to the movies sometimes just so they can see the times they grew up in and Bikeriders did that well with all the authentic sets, costumes and plenty of hair gel. Some of you may consider the 1960s Chicago the good old days when civil rights has boomed and when life was simple, you know, before the internet. But let’s not forget, Chicago is also a dangerous city in general.

Regardless with all the authentic and retro stuff, there wasn’t too much of a story in it. Bikeriders was actually more aimed for the love of the characters and those who admired 1960 than it is for the plot. Really good performances in the film. But the question is, Is it enough for Tom Hardy get an Oscar nod for being a Bike gang leader? Who knows? What about Austin Butler and Jodie Comer? Maybe.