Style Over Substance. The Bikeriders (2024) || Movie Review.

When I first heard about this movie, I was excited to watch it because of Michael Shannon, Tom Hardy and Austin Butler. I was looking forward to seeing these three fantastic actors’ performances in the movie. Sadly, that was not the case.

”The Bikeriders” is an American period crime drama that was written and produced by Jeff Nichols. This film was based on a photo-book of the same title by Danny Lyon. This photo-book portrayed the lifestyle of the Vandals Motorcycle Club. It starred Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Boyd Holbrook, Damon Herriman, with others that we may be familiar with.

The plot of this movie was set around the timeline of 1965 when a Photography student Danny Lyon wanted to learn more about the lifestyle of the Vandals Motorcycle club. Danny met Kathy and began to interview her to document her own side of the story about the Vandals and how she got entangled with them.

Kathy, a vibrant and outgoing lady, began her story on how she met Benny Cross, a hotheaded member of the Chicago-based Vandals Motorcycle Club, and married him just five weeks later. From her retelling of the story, Danny got to learn that the founder of Vandals Motorcycle Club, Johnny Davis was inspired to create the club after watching Marlon Brando in The Wild One on a fateful day.

As the Vandals club began to flourish, Johnny was challenged to a fight when he rejected a Vandal member’s suggestion that new chapters should be allowed to form across the country in the midwest. Regardless, Johnny won this challenge, but he still gave out the permission for the club to form chapters across the country.

Things were still going good until Benny was attacked by two people in a bar because he was wearing the Vandal's color in their territory. Benny being a hothead got into a fight with them which resulted in one of his legs being almost severed with a shovel. This event led to a series of events that molded the motorcycle club into something different that wasn't Johnny's goal. What are these events? What happened to Benny and Kathy afterwards? What is the end of the Vandals Motorcycle Club?

My Review And Rating.

I have mixed feelings about this movie and I had high expectations for it considering the cast. In the end, my expectations were not met.

The reason why this movie failed to impress me was because Jeff Nichols did a poor job in writing and directing this movie. Also, the cast didn't shine nor was their presence felt throughout the duration of the movie. I mean, how would a director have Michael Shannon, Tom Hardy and Austin Butler on set and not make use of them properly.

Throughout the duration of the movie, Jodie Comer was the spotlight for me. She was the vibe of the movie and I watched this movie to the end because of her. All other actors like Michael, Tom and Austin were just behind the shadow.

Michael’s time appearance was brief. He was in and out of his character unnoticed. Tom was barely present throughout the movie, he barely said anything and all he did was to smoke, drink, and grunt. The worst of all Austin. His character was a hotheaded individual, but I didn't feel that vibe. I felt he was a calm hothead and shy character. He didn't have much to say either and he smoked a lot. All these fantastic actors were wasted and were not allowed to bring their substance to the plot of this movie.

The plot was not properly written well and time was not invested in the writing process. I felt the plot and script was a rush work. I wish Jeff took his time writing and directing this movie. I mean, a series of historical events were inspired by this movie. It should have been better, it should have had substance, it should have had a strong story arc/plot and it should have had a reason as to why this movie was produced in the first place.

Apart from Jodie’s presence that encouraged me to see this movie to the end, the cinematographer also contributed to it. I say that the style and outlook of this movie was done properly. The mood, tone, location, the camera work, all the costumes used, the accent of all the actors and finally the setting/arrangements of every scene. All these gave this movie an amazing style which was befitting for the purpose of the movie.

Rating this movie, I will give it 6.7 stars. It was okay to watch. It had the right style and outlook. The plot fell flat, no direction, no purpose and no substance to it. The cast were the right pick, but the director, Jeff dampened their talent and left them behind the spotlight. The lead character was not given the chance to come and play. Above all, I wish this movie was written and directed properly. It would have been a movie that won't be forgettable by everyone and especially the people from the midwest.

I would recommend this movie if you are into old school or midwest movies. Then you should check out this movie. It might surprise regardless of my review.

Have you seen ”The Bikeriders”? What was your experience like?