The Bikeriders

 

        From writer/director Jeff Nichols, comes this great new drama based on the book, "The Bikeriders" by Danny Lyon.

        The film starts out in 1965 with Danny Lyon interviewing Kathy Cross about her time with "The Vandals", a local Chicago motorcycle club. We then flashback to how the club started and the various interactions of it's members. We learn that Mr. Lyon has been given full access to take pictures and interview club members for his subsequent book.

         While it is based on real characters and events, there are the usual fictious elements added for dramatic effect. Mr. Nichols clearly loves his subject matter and he has assembled a terrific cast.

         The three main leads are Tom Hardy as Johnny, the leader and creator of the club, Jodie Comer as Kathy (with a terrific Chicago accent),  and Austin Butler as Benny, club member and Kathy's love interest. The co-stars include Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Boyd Holbrook, Damon Herriman, Beau Knapp, Emory Cohen, Karl Glusman, Toby Wallace, Norman Reedus, Paul Sparks, Happy Anderson, and Will Oldham.

        Mr. Hardy (a brute who's smarter than he looks) and Ms. Comer (the heart and soul of the film) are just terrific. Mr. Butler is a seething, magnetic presence and the rest of the cast does a great job bringing an air of authenticity to the film.

        This is an original and exciting film that I can't recommend enough.