Jeff Nichols’s The Bikeriders has become one of the most talked-about films of the year. It premiered at the Telluride and London Film Festivals last year. Originally set for release in December 2023, it was postponed due to the writers’ strike. 20th Century Studios removed it from their schedule, but Focus Features and Universal picked it up, now scheduled for June 2024.
Despite the anticipation, the film’s journey has added more hype than the film might deserve. With a cast including Hollywood stars like Austin Butler and Mike Faist, the film reflects the saying, “Too many cooks in the kitchen.”
Although it features many talented actors, the film lacks flavor and depth. With Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, and Mike Faist in key roles, Nichols’s latest project falls short, offering many familiar faces but little substance.
What Is ‘The Bikeriders’ About?
The Bikeriders follows two timelines. In the present, set in the early ‘70s, Jodie Comer’s character, Kathy, is interviewed by a former motorcycle gang member turned photographer and journalist (Mike Faist, who plays the author of the book the film is based on).
As she does laundry, complains about motorcycles in her yard, and drinks beer, she recounts how she met her husband, Benny (Austin Butler). Kathy’s stories then take us back in time, showing her meeting Benny in a bar and their quick marriage.
We learn about the Chicago Vandals, the gang Benny is devoted to, and their leader, Johnny (Tom Hardy). We see the gang’s activities and the marriage we are supposed to care about. The film includes some violence, arson, and other dramatic elements, but overall, it feels shallow.
The Bikeriders might seem appealing at first with its talented cast, including Emmy winners and Oscar nominees. The film’s focus on a motorcycle gang might suggest action and intrigue, but it delivers neither.
The film jumps between characters and conversations without much depth or development. Much of the two-hour film feels like it drags, showing people drinking beer and chatting without much of interest.
‘The Bikeriders’ Puts Too Much Time in the Wrong Places
The film could have been improved by focusing more on the main characters, especially Benny and Kathy’s relationship. Kathy faces challenges from Johnny and the gang members because of her love for Benny. However, their relationship lacks depth, with Comer and Butler showing no real chemistry.
The brief mention of their marriage after five weeks feels insufficient. A more detailed and tender portrayal of their love story could have made the film more engaging, especially since the film repeatedly tells us to care about their relationship.
The film does shine when it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It touches on the folly of men who get caught up in dangerous lifestyles they think are empowering. Nichols does not glamorize a fight between Johnny and another gang member.
Instead, it shows them rolling around in the mud, fighting over trivial things, which is briefly entertaining. Johnny’s motivation is shown as a desire to be as cool as Marlon Brando in The Wild One, poking fun at the way movies make tough men seem larger than life.
This approach reveals the impact of violence on one’s life and relationships. If the film had focused more on these elements and less on filler, it could have offered an interesting commentary on masculinity and violence.
The film tries to show the dark side of gang life but ends up being offensive. A scene where Kathy almost gets raped by gang members is problematic.
Even though Johnny saves her, the scene raises uncomfortable questions about the value of women in such environments. It should have highlighted the real dangers women face but instead comes off as an offensive portrayal of women.
Jodie Comer gives a strong performance despite her accent being less impressive than in Killing Eve. Austin Butler, meant to be the central figure, comes off as dull and unremarkable. His character, Benny, lacks depth, and his brooding presence doesn’t fit the role.
The script does not help, giving Butler little to work with. After seeing Butler’s performance in Dune: Part Two, his lack of expression in this film is disappointing. Tom Hardy, on the other hand, provides some humor, whether intentionally or not. His accent is questionable, but it adds some fun to the otherwise bland film.
The Bikeriders could have been a decent film but gets lost in its attempt to tell an epic story that isn’t there. While Comer tries hard to carry the film, it fails due to excessive filler, underdeveloped characters, and odd accents. The Bikeriders is now available to stream on Peacock in the U.S.
