Wild Ride
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5)
Writer/director Jeff Nichols adds great dimension to his source material, the 1968 black-and-white photographic book “The Bikeriders” by photographer/filmmaker Danny Lyon.
The story, through the narration of Kathy (a wonderfully brash and cheeky performance by Jodie Comer), tells about a Chicago-area motorcycle club’s origin, its individual members and pursuits between the mid 1960’s on through to the early 1970’s. Nichols’ careful re-creation of Lyon’s photographs, along with cinematographer Adam Stone’s masterful shots, capture the cool-greaser/tough-guy era so perfectly. Filming locations include historic Cincinnati neighborhoods and surrounding areas.
The triangle of the three leads carry the film quite beautifully, along with the equally sumptuous performances of the supporting cast. Each character has a well-developed arc.
Danny Lyon (a determined and enthusiastic performance by Mike Faist) interviews Kathy about her observations of biker life; including her account of the first-time meeting of her husband, lawless, ruleless and good-looking , Benny (fresh from playing Elvis, the doe-eyed Austin Butler). She falls instantly, but soon fears the dangers and demands of the motorcycle club. The leader, Johnny (a rugged, keep-it-cool and almost Brando-esque performance by Tom Hardy) wants Benny as a protege. Here lies the tug: Kathy wanting Benny to quit and Johnny (a family man who’s sacrificed much for the club) needing him to takeover. There is a memorably poignant and intimate scene between the two male leads where Johnny softly tries to execute a transition of power over to Benny. The extremely close proximity of the actors in the shot speaks volumes.
Michael Shannon (in a continuous steak of Jeff Nichols’ films), as the gritty Zipco, is outstanding. The film gives us the gift of his brilliant monologue that profoundly describes how these motorcyclists were treated as outcasts, outsiders and rejects of society. Ultimately, they yearned for a sense of belonging, which initially, the club provided…until it didn’t. There are other quite notable acting performances by Boyd Holbrook, Norman Reedus, Damon Herriman and Emory Cohen.
Jeff Nichols artfully creates a more than suitable film companion to Danny Lyon’s book. This softens the blow of some of the very bad behavior of the characters in the movie, which was largely (and shamefully) overlooked in that era.
The film includes plenty of violence, toxic masculinity, male rage and overall bad-boy shenanigans, though not unnecessarily. My old-age sensitivities have gotten the best of me in these “woke” times. It takes a well-crafted film like “The Bikeriders” to ensure my soft landing after the wild ride.
