Welcome back to the blog readers. As I am pretty sure you guys are aware by now, I love myself a good drama film. And as of recent, I love myself some Austin Butler, so you know I was going to be in line for his latest film. I have been optimistic about this film since I heard about it around this time last year, but those cursed strikes prevented the film from being released in 2023. Now that the film is finally out, what would I make of it? Stick around to find out.
The Bikeriders was written and directed by Jeff Nichols based on the book of the same name by Danny Lyon. The film stars Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, and Norman Reedus. In the film, a wife in the fictional Vandal motorcycle club tells a photographer of her experience in the group, and what led to the group's downfall.
Ever since I saw Elvis (2022), I knew Austin Butler would be special, and anything Tom Hardy is in, I will see. I had been excited for this film, and I personally did not know what I was going to get out of this film. What I wound up getting is a damn good quasi-biographical film that delivers a trio of Oscar-worthy performances from the three leads (Bulter, Comer, and Hardy) and a story that will have you feel. And awesome music as well, you cannot forget that.
I want to start with Austin Butler, who is my boy by the way. Ever since I saw Elvis, I was instantly captivated by his performance. And it didn't stop in Dune: Part Two (2024), which I loved him in. In this film though, he is the heartbeat of the story and every time he is on screen, he is delivering another masterclass performance. Like I said in the previous paragraph, I believe his performance should be looked at in March/April when the Oscars come around because it is absolutely deserving.
Next, I want to talk about the performance of Jodie Comer. I had only seen her in Free Guy (2021), and I thought she was an absolute delight in that role (Still manifesting a sequel sometime). Seeing her in this made me completely fall in love with her as a performer. She delivers such a levity and a gravitas to her character Kathy. And with her being the lens in which we see this story unfold, and to be able to deliver the powerhouse performance she does, I think we should be looking at her for an Oscar nomination in March/April as well.
Finally, we cannot leave out the third member of the trio. Tom Hardy is one of my favorite people in the business in my opinion. He always knows how to bring a level of fun and passion to the projects he is in, regardless of the quality of the project. As the president of the Vandal Club, Johnny, Hardy blends his Eddie Brock accent with a midwestern twang that packs a lot more than a punch. He is the true powerhouse of the film, and this film would not have worked as well without him. Again, I sound like a broken record, but it needs to be said. Put him in contention for an Oscar nomination for this role.
I do believe the notion that the stories of the bikerider clubs are usually never told, and I appreciate not only Danny Lyon for telling this story in 1965, but Jeff Nichols for giving us this story. The story of this film is timeless and gives a snapshot at a part of American history that is normally shrugged over. Because of the reputation these bikers get, it kind of feels like a forbidden story to tell, but I appreciate the guts of Nichols to tell it. And I believe this film will be a dark horse contender for Best Adapted Screenplay.
In conclusion, The Bikeriders boasts a stellar cast that give Oscar-worthy performances with a story that is as timeless as the characters in the film. Thank you for reading, and I will see you for the next post.
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