The Watchlist: The Bikeriders

The Bikeriders

Russ Matthews & Laura Bennett discuss the latest film starring Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, and Tom Hardy. Yet, is this film for everyone like Sons of Anarchy or is this more of an arthouse film.

We apologise for calling Jodie Comer, Jamie throughout the podcast... sorry, Jodie!

Join the fun and send us your thoughts on this film. Have your say on their take or just drop us a comment at hopepodcast.com.au.

Film Summary:

Danny Lyon was a student and a photographer at the University of Chicago in the early 1960s. One of his projects was to share the lifestyle of the biker culture that was emerging during that time in history. His work became a photobook that focussed on the Chicago chapter of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club that documented and honoured the life of the American bikerider. Accomplished writer/director Jeff Nichols (Midnight Special) took Lyon’s work and reimagined this pictorial account of the bikers as an outlaw motorcycle club called the Vandals MC.

Johnny (Tom Hardy) was a truck driver who was passionate about motorcycles and would race them on the weekend with friends. As his passion for this community grew, he decided to form the Vandals as a biker club. With members named Zipco (Michael Shannon), Brucie (Damon Herriman) and Cockroach (Emory Cohen), he was able to get a loyal group who enjoyed riding, playing pool and drinking together most nights. Yet, his closest confidant and most enigmatic member had to be Benny (Austin Butler) who showed his fierce loyalty to the group's charismatic founder. As their reputation grew, photographer and writer, Danny Lyon (Mike Faist), started to document their history and motivations for riding. An account was primarily told through the words of Benny’s wife, Kathy (Jodie Comer), who didn’t hold back on sharing the endearing and darker sides of this tight-knit group of motorcycle enthusiasts.

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So many shows, so little time. At least it feels like it. Between all the different streaming platforms and the blockbuster movies coming to cinema trying to get audiences back in a post-COVID world, we are spoilt for choice on screen – and yet, still “have nothing to watch”.

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