As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a bike rider.

The Bikeriders is a crime drama loosely adapted from a photo book of the same name, which detailed the life and actions of a 1960s outlaw biker gang in Chicago. The film follows the fictional Vandals, which was formed by former truck driver Johnny Davis. The non-linear story follows the growth of the club and the actions of many of its members, with a majority of the story being told through the recounting of Kathy Bauer, who falls in love with a reckless member named Benny. Spanning the better part of a decade, we see members come and go, leadership change and loyalty put to the test. 

This was a super solid film from Jeff Nichols, being his first film in almost 8 years. It’s a surgical dive into the hierarchies and operations of an ever-growing club whose foundation continues to weaken despite their growth in power. It hopes to shed light on the enigmatic pull these groups have and what draws people to join them, all while finding vulnerability beneath the leather clad, machismo front. Plus, it’s just a smorgasbord of the most aggressive midwestern accent, connected to some truly stellar performances that move you, entertain you and perfectly represent the time period. It doesn’t really get too introspective nor does it really present any new takes on the aesthetic, but sometimes just a solid film with some great stars is all you need.

I didn’t include a Goodfellas reference at the beginning for nothing. I actually found a lot of parallels between the two, which may give you a better idea of what to expect. Structurally they’re very similar, bouncing to and from different periods in time, all while being guided by a narration. Additionally, it approaches biker gangs in a similar way that Goodfellas covered mobsters. Their live fast, die young lifestyles are undeniably magnetic, and the films make good cases for why people get roped up in them to begin with. Both share very similar themes; familial structures, the powerless grabbing their own little slice of control, and the sense of belonging to something just to name a few. The Bikeriders may make you want to go out and get matching jackets with your buddies, but I think it illustrates the issues with the lifestyle fairly well. Truthfully, it shows enough glimpses of how it all could feasibly work, but because the environment breeds egotism, aggression and lawlessness, it all seems like a pipedream more than anything. The ripple effects of the group’s rise are felt throughout, as a younger, hungrier generation begins to rise through inspiration before eventually looking to usurp the old guard, which is prevalent in many walks of life outside of just gangs.

Our guide through the rise and fall of the Vandals is Kathy Bauer, played by Jodie Comer and who, in my opinion, is the standout star of the film. A lot of it really comes down to her dialect and delivery, which really sells the time period and her as a character. Allured into the biker lifestyle through her infatuation with one of the riders, Kathy struggles to share her husband with the group once she realizes what they get up to. She feels like a second banana in Benny’s eyes, which pivots her to fight for him to leave the group before his own self destruction. Despite giving a stellar performance, she doesn’t get a ton of narrative importance until the end, which is a shame considering her “outside looking in” situation could have led to a more interesting character study. Benny, played by Austin Butler, only knows the lifestyle, being perhaps the only thing in his life to ever give him a sense of purpose and belonging. It doesn’t help that the budding bromance between him and Johnny intensifies as Johnny makes it clear he wants Benny…to run the club, of course. Or is there more to it? Played captivatingly by Tom Hardy, Johnny goes from being a simple truck driver enamored by Marlon Brando to the leader of a state spanning gang with countless members. His vision goes beyond what he intended, the pressures of which begin to alter his mind and thinking. His relationship with Benny is a great unpeeling of male relationships where neither are willing to really address their feelings towards one another. Not even in a directly romantic way either, sometimes even just telling someone how much they matter to you is hidden underneath manly posturing to not appear weak. They respond in ways only men can, usually through wonton acts of violence, like Johnny burning a bar down after Benny gets jumped in it. This is true not just between these two, but many of the other gang members as well, which also include great character performances from the likes of Michael Shannon to Norman Reedus. 

The relationships between the bikers are often quite endearing, humorous and occasionally frightening. Their consistently unpredictable and volatile personalities keep you wondering who has long to live and who may betray who. It’s highly entertaining, but I will admit the narrative and a lot of the big moments are fairly predictable. You can see a lot of the turns coming a mile away, and while the deconstruction of masculinity is welcome and interesting, it doesn’t really say anything we don’t already know. Because other films like Goodfellas have already ridden down this road before, you don’t find much to be insightful at the end of the day. What helps Goodfellas stand the test of time is the kinetic energy that remains consistent throughout the film, keeping you entertained and enamored even if you’ve been down this road before. The Bikeriders isn’t boring or slow by any means, but I do think it lacks the same edginess, the same teetering to offend that gives films like Goodfellas a more dangerous air to them. There’s some tough and gritty moments here for sure, but everything feels a bit too clean at times.  With that being said, The Bikeriders does find some success in its more delicate and intimate portrayals. Scenes such as Michael Shannon discussing being rejected from fighting in Vietnam to Austin Butler’s emotional release at the end are all stellar examples. The spirit of 60s and 70s Americana feels mostly faithfully reconstructed, drawing modern day parallels to a time many said was simpler, but it’s clear many of its issues continue to remain ubiquitous. 

Potentially lining up to be the most “dad” film of the year, The Bikeriders is a solid time even if it feels like you’ve seen this before. Its portrayal of mid-century Mid-Westernism and boys’ club mentality is engaging if not familiar, captained by some solid performances that cover a wide range of emotions to mostly success. Its conventional nature makes it just approachable enough, yet those wanting a newer lens to view these themes through may want to keep looking.

RATING

THE VANDAL

Sure, you could be a tough as nails biker who only shoots whiskey neat and warm. But why be so cliche when there’s so many possibilities out there? If you’re still wanting a whiskey drink that packs a punch, then perhaps you will enjoy The Vandal. Slightly sweet with a hint of allspice and herbal notes, The Vandal is a nice whiskey cocktail alternative for the more adventurous, packing a hearty mixture of spirits from Jagermeister to absinthe. Easy to sip but also easy to get carried away with, The Vandal is great for paling around with you buddies at the bar before you inevitably burn it down. That’s the free market at work…or something.

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5oz bourbon
• 1/2oz Jagermeister
• 1/4oz maraschino liqueur
• 1 barspoon mezcal
• 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
• Absinthe rinse
• Garnish: Lemon peel

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Rinse rocks glass with a small amount of absinthe.
2. Add ingredients to the glass.
3. Fill with one large ice cube and stir to chill.
4. Garnish with lemon peel.