The Bikeriders – Movie Reviews by Ry!

The Bikeriders – A Journey of Brotherhood on the Open Road

Within the aspects of life, what is it that you ponder?  Do you look onward with a thought of wonder or stand at a crossroads with a feeling of what could have been.  Within human endeavors, contemplation becomes an intriguing thing, especially within a story told on the big screen.  Grips happen in every circumstance, but if the drama hits right … it can make you think about your own path.  In this review, I look at the latest true event inspired tale.  Within the aspect of life, we witness a journey that is simple but wholesome to the heart.  With a strong cast, The Bikeriders takes you on a journey that defines what it means to be brothers of the open road. 

Inspired by true events, we head on a journey about a biker gang and their stories of fun, folly and the ultimate meaning of brotherhood.  Within storytelling, there is intrigue when the dramatization is built off realism.  With this film, the inspiration comes from a photo-book (of the same name), where the filmmakers take ‘aspects’ from the real-life biker gang and craft a narrative around the fictitious Vandals MC through the eyes of outside observers.  Through this technique, we come into this film through the conversations between photographer/journalist Danny Lyon (Mike Faist) and Kathy Bauer (Jodie Comer), wife of one of the biker gang members, Benny Bauer (Austin Butler).  Through the interview, you are thrust into the Vandals MC’s world, getting an organic look at their everyday lives, rules and exploits as a Midwestern biker gang in the 1960’s.  Through that ‘outside observer’ technique, you witness how Kathy encounters the Vandals MC, and how her perspective (of the gang) was built through everyone’s own unique personality.  From the leader, Johnny (Tom Hardy) to the individual members like young hothead Benny, calm voice Brucie (Damon Herriman), the old historian Zipco (Michael Shannon), Funny Sonny (Norman Reedus) and so forth, you get a dynamic characterized by conversations and personal connections.  Their journey is built on the simplistic theme of brotherhood.  As the movie moves through the interview, the audience witnesses realistic lives driven by the circumstance of their bonds, raw connections that help (and hinder) the renowned status of the gang.  This type of storytelling allows for a wholesomeness that raises any recognizable tropes, creating a genuine feeling within the familiar.

As the tale continues through the later part of the 60’s, the changing of situations weigh heavily on the original members.  Johnny, Benny (and the others) began to see an uptick in the conflict of their ‘brotherhood’, driving a reflection motif on ‘what comes next’ for everyone.  As turmoil begins to happen, we head into a third act of heavy foreshadowing and upheaval like scenes.  With Johnny, Benny (and the others) coming to a crossroads, they must come to terms with certain truths that leads into a full circle like climax, and remembrance stylized epilogue.  The Bikeriders is a drama that rises above with its strong characters and themes of brotherhood.  If you are a fan of those involved, simple storytelling or characterized films, this is one for you.  To me, this is worth the full price of admission.

Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)