The Bikeriders

I love Sons of Anarchy and the Mayans so I was looking forward to this movie but I have to say it's a little bit dull. It's not a terrible movie but I just expected more especially from a biker type movie.

It has a great cast although I have to admit Jodie Comers voice/accent she put on for this movie really grinded on me and it felt nauseating to listen to, that's just my opinion. For the record I do think she is a great actor though.

The story didn't really go anywhere and I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, and well......it just didn't. The story just seems to plod along with no real direction or plot. Even now after watching it, I'm still not sure what this movie was trying to achieve?

I think this was a missed opportunity and it could have been so much better. It's worth a watch for the good cast, but just don't expect to be gripped by the story because there basically isn't one.

But I never felt tension or emotions, it was like a flat rollercoaster. Jodie Comer is out of this world, she cans play whatever she wants, she's awesome. And you mr Director, you had Michael Shannon and You do nothing with him? Really?

Besides that, acting was nice, photography did the job, music was ok, dressing was cool... I mean, this is and average good movie that I won't remember in a week or two. There was nothing special about it, nothing to highlight. I don't regret at all going to the cinema and I loved watching Jodie on the big screen, but that's it. In my opinion, the movie lacks of emotions and charm.

Brilliant acting, brilliantly shot, but where's the story? Having Jodie Comer's character as the erstwhile narrator was a brilliant deviation from tradition, but who's the hero and who's the villain? I know it's based on a book and therefore a true story, but you can bend a story to fit narrative arc. This film has no clear protagonist and the supposed antagonist is only in it briefly as a cardboard cut-out "victim of circumstance". Also, we never clearly establish any of the motives of the main characters. Why are they in the club? Why do they rebel? What are their goals? More importantly, why are any of them riding motorcycles and why don't they just drive cars? This is clearly a key point as I'm guessing the Chicago winters are not fun to ride in.

As a keen biker, I loved the characters and the motorcycles, but this was a series of vignettes rather than a cohesive story.

We were both looking forward to watching this. Great actors, and a seemingly engrossing story. Told from the view point of Jodie Comer initially we both thought it got off to a good start. It was atmospheric of the era, and there was nothing wrong with the clothes or cinematography.

But it was actually a dull story. Dull. A story of a biker gang in the late 50' early 60's. The gang and their colours were everything. They weren't particularly'bad', the bad ones come later, after returning from Vietnam- and the increasing drug culture. Austin Butler now appears to have one particular way of acting. He wants to look like James Dean (he does have a passing resemblance), and I find him stilted and too full of angst. Jodie was ok, although why you would hang around with these people - the life appears one of poverty and strife. Love Tom Hardy, but it was very much a brooding role. Burdened with the role of leader, it could only end one way. We stuck with it, but frankly, we won't ever watch it again.

This is my first IMDB review, I didn't feel compelled by the movie as I've seen a ton of movies but I feel that most people were expecting more from this movie & just not getting it. The Bikeriders is just merely showing us a place & time in America 1965-1973 etc. Just a portrait of a time that most of us aren't familiar with as it wasn't supposed to be a hardcore crime drama etc & I think ppl were let down by that. It's showing us that this motorcycle gang are not a bunch of tough guys to the core, sure you have Hardy & a few others that are willing to fight but the others are just plain scared to throw down & we are shown that because that's what Danny Lyons saw. Just because they are riding motorcycles & look a certain part doesn't mean they're not somewhat normal people. It's more of an observation piece of a biker club in that moment in time with some drama, some rough talk, an occasional spat etc.

At first I thought Jodie Comer's accent was over the top & her performance also but after a few watches it grew on me. Hardy is great as usual as the alpha leader of the crew but he doesn't really want a lot or any trouble he just wants this to be a club & have a respect thrown his way. Now Austin Butler was the biggest letdown for me and by no fault of his own as I think the script/material let him down. It's somewhat of a joke as we're shown, I'll die for this club one minute, then another few minutes I'm not like this, this isn't who I am is who I am etc with no rhyme or reason. It was just nonsensical in a way more than anything. So just take it for what it is, showing us a slice of life most of us don't remember or understand fully and it's just being portrayed for what it was in that moment in time. All in all it's a hard 7, 8 at best because I respect the director & cast. They couldn't went a lot harder as I was expecting but I think that was never the point. Watch & Enjoy for what is!