The Bikeriders – Review

A photographer named Danny Lyon (Faist) spent four years of his life in the sixties crafting a “project” where he interviewed and followed around the Chicago-based motorcycle club, the Vandals. The real-life biker gang was called the Outlaws, but for the most part other than some small changes similar to that, The Bikeriders film is based on a book that Lyon wound up writing and publishing, of the same name.

Bringing a stellar cast together and helmed by a quality director, The Bikeriders is a strong watch, despite your level of interest in motorcycles and rugged riders that value being seen as a badasses and working with their hands. I myself do not see motorcycle clubs as bad ass in any form, yet despite that the film never comes across as cheesy and is mostly an interesting time.

The film focuses on interviews and dramatic scenes, primarily following Kathy Bauer (Comer) and her introduction to the Vandals. On her first night in the biker-frequented bar, she meets Benny Cross (Butler), who is effortlessly cool as he gives approximately zero fucks about any and everything. While Kathy was there to meet her girlfriend for moral support, she winds up staying out late with Benny and even taking a ride on the back of his bike. When the rest of the group joins him on the expressway, she begins to see the attraction of a flock of burly dudes zipping along on their metal hogs.

The men all find a sense of being in the like-minded motorcycle club. While it is led by Johnny Davis (Hardy), it features blue collar and hard-working men from many walks of life. They like to drink, shout and overall have a good time, all while talking bikes and zooming around town. They have each other’s backs, and are always happier in greater numbers.

The crew includes cool headed Brucie (Herriman), headcase Zipco (Shannon), mechanic aficionado Cal (Holbrook), bug eater Cockroach (Cohen), California visitor Funny Sonny (Reedus), and many more. While mostly these are men that want to purely enjoy riding and having a good time, sometimes their actions dip into violence and crime. There are only so many choices for how everything will end for them, especially as the newer and younger crowd bring crazier characters, and the Vietnam war contributes to drug addled veterans who look to the club for any means of survival.

The Bikeriders is really held together by its cast and their stellar performances. They all come across as genuine and authentic, and give validity to the characters and the story itself. Compared to the actual photographs from the real-life story, the ensemble found the right looks and brought the real men to life very well.

While the story itself is somewhat of a slow meander through the sixties and early seventies, and only brings so many surprises overall, it is well written and gives life to its setting and the players involved. It has a bit of a hypnotic flow to it all, however never goes too deep into any of its core themes or emotions. That being said, most any viewer should find something in it, and it is never boring.