The Bikeriders

This is exactly the kind of movie I would never go to see on my own, but I attended the FilmBooster screening out of curiosity and it turned out exactly as I expected. I have to single out the absolutely excellent Tom Hardy, I adore him in literally every film, and here he plays his character flawlessly as well, and likewise all the A-listers who second him are solidly memorable. The idea, however (although I was entertained at a couple of moments), went completely over my head and didn't say anything to me, so I had a bit of trouble getting more into the film. The whole thing is kind of a fast-paced story of one group of bikers, who are a joy to watch, but who on the other hand don't do anything memorable, making the movie a sort of a fly-by of bland scenes. Those who like this type of movies can add a star, but otherwise it's just a bland "meh" without much punch for me. (2024-06-19)

A praiseworthy work that dusts of the good old motorcycling setting and has a good time building a story and characters. With superbly cast actors who do excellent work. The fragile Jodie Comer among tough guys who don’t belong anywhere, so they belong to themselves. Tom Hardy’s growling and stares have never been more expressive and the rebellious heart-throb Austin Butler gives the film the spirit of the most iconic version of cinematic America (James Dean). The Bikeriders is an enjoyable old-school flick for fans of ensemble acting. It doesn’t need a sophisticated plot to be entertaining with every scene and it keeps its outcome unpredictable all the way to the end. Probably the film’s coolest and most original scene, romantic and macho at the same time, is Butler’s seduction of Jodie Comer in front of her house. (2024-06-24)

Old school. Honest filmmaking, yet Jeff Nichols goes about it a little differently. A motorcycle thesis, starting with a look at Marlon Brando in The Wild One, wanders between the various characters, their monologues about the poor and war, cars and banging the pretty Kathy. The acting is top-notch in each of the Vandals, but Austin Butler and Tom Hardy tower above them all. Hardy's thoughtful, good-natured Johnny as the founder and boss shows that it was all originally about picnics and a sense of freedom, and Butler, as the embodiment of that Savage, is the role model and son he always wanted (I guess? Nichols is not literally wise). The Bikeriders is based on a photo book so it's fortunate that it has a plot arc and an unexpected ending and says a lot about what women think of men. Still, it lacked one bigger scene to stick in the memory and push it up that proverbial notch. But maybe they didn't put it in for a greater sense of realism. (2024-08-02)

An average retro-style film with excellent actors, amazing production design and a few interesting moments. The biggest emphasis is on the characters, the story doesn't rush anywhere and the finale is barely a few minutes long. Austin Butler is a modern-day James Dean. It will never become a cult-classic or an audience favourite, but The Bikeriders will definitely find its place and its target audience, even if it's not a big one. (2024-07-31)

The Bikeriders rides the wave of nostalgia. The cast is definitely trendy, but the story feels like filler between Danny Lyon's photos. It's not really important that the inspiration from The Wild One seemed somewhat archaic even in the sixties. What matters is that the tradition of Easy Rider continues. (2024-06-27)