The Bikeriders movie (NGC)

[moto]

I saw The Bikeriders yesterday at a theater and strongly recommend it, especially to any here who rode in the sixties. There are plenty of good reviews online that emphasize the excellent acting, cinematography, and recreation of the historical setting, as well as the thinness of the plot.

Few, if any, of the reviewers have actually read the text in Danny Lyon's photojournalism book on the Chicago Outlaws, on which the story is based. I have and can report that almost all the scenes in at least in the first two-thirds of the movie are taken directly from the accounts of participants. The lines spoken by the actors are typically word-for-word from their characters' accounts as reported by Lyon in his book. The movie seems to be almost completely authentic, apart from the over-representation of Harleys compared with the photos in the book. A good way to spend two hours.

[moto]

Just a note of followup. The movie's proportion of truth and fiction is addressed in a number of websites. I won't give anything away about this, but point toward two:

https://screenrant.com/the-bikeriders-movie-true-story-accuracy-nichols-response/ -- this one has links to additional sources

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/real-story-behind-bikeriders-danny-lyon-photography-book-inspired-it-180984579/

[blackcat]

If my memory is correct, Lyon's photo of Crossing the Ohio River was the inspiration for making the film.

[twowheeladdict]

Ill watch it when it makes it to YouTube free streaming.  The beauty of barely watching movies over the years is the availability of unseen movies all over YouTube for when I am homebound.

[bigbikerrick]

Looks like a fun way to spend a couple of hours on a hot afternoon. I like the current theatre setup where you can recline, lift your legs, and enjoy a cold beer, with your popcorn!   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrSaVt5pvPk

[Ratso88]

Yessir, I’ve had the book quite a while now and will be seeing the movie this week.

I agree, the plot does seem thin, but, there is not a lot to build a script from in the book.

 

[PeteS]

I was given a soft cover in 1969 and later bought a hard cover version. What was going on in the midwest seemed to parallel our Western New York subculture. The Road Vultures being the predominant group. Tough guys you didn’t want to mess but seemed less about hard core criminal activity back then. The movie is on my to do list.

Pete

[LowRyter]

Thanks for this. I'm not a big fan of "biker" movies.  But consider them a guilty pleasure.  Liked them until "Billy Jack". (preachy and over the top, the original "Born Losers" was campy and cool).  Read Thompson's book and learned the truth.

I remember the photo book this was based on.

I read these actors didn't even ride.  I'm a fan M Shannon too.

Anyway.  Thought I'd wait for cable.  But the recommend here makes me want to see it after  I saw the music list.

Maybe I'll see it

[moto]

Thanks for this....

I read these actors didn't even ride.  I'm a fan M Shannon too.

I believe Shannon was the only one who didn't ride. Director Jeff Nichols said in an interview:

"“To be honest, all of them had to go through training. Now, some guys took to it better than others. Sadly, for everyone, Michael Shannon wasn’t allowed to get near a motorcycle. We barely let him lean on a motorcycle,” he said with a laugh on the ReelBlend podcast."

!

[cliffrod]

1%ers are all fun and games until they impose their “freedom” on you and your hard work.  Btdt.  Real world isn’t tv movie crap  Not interested.

Edit- fwiw.  I cut this job for a good friend that we knew as Dog Morgan.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rabtNu5Nat8

Morgan was a fully patched Outlaw for years, including years in federal prison, before renouncing that lifestyle, accepting Christ and speaking very clearly about his new perception of the futility of that world.  He was a regular at the shop.   At one of our early events (2004) a local HA prospect literally beat down that skinny 125 lb 70+ yr old man for wearing a “support your local outlaws” tshirt to deliberately refute HA imposition.

We dealt with HA becoming a growing presence at our rally, posting lieutenants to screen and intercept anyone riding in with unapproved paraphernalia in their territory, etc, etc.  it literally came to the point of gunplay between HA, an unapproved individual and city police at the rally in 2014.  Thankfully, no one was actually shot or injured and the hosting “supporters” realized how deadly such situations can become so they curiously no longer were in town during subsequent rally events….

especially since SoA garbage, too many think 1% stuff is just some innocuous part of motorcycle culture.  It may be, until they come into your town and start dictating their perspective. 

[moto]

This movie, not a TV movie, certainly reinforces your points. But if you're not interested, don't see it. I have never, and never would, watch Sons of Anarchy, for the reasons you give.

[cliffrod]

This movie, not a TV movie, certainly reinforces your points. But if you're not interested, don't see it. I have never, and never would, watch Sons of Anarchy, for the reasons you give.

Thanks for telling me what to do, Moto.  The irony clarifies my point very well…..

[moto]

Thanks for telling me what to do, Moto.  The irony clarifies my point very well…..

Sorry. I don't see the irony, or how it clarifies your point, but don't need to know.

[LowRyter]

I believe Shannon was the only one who didn't ride. Director Jeff Nichols said in an interview:

"“To be honest, all of them had to go through training. Now, some guys took to it better than others. Sadly, for everyone, Michael Shannon wasn’t allowed to get near a motorcycle. We barely let him lean on a motorcycle,” he said with a laugh on the ReelBlend podcast."

!

Saw it this afternoon.  I'll give it a "B".  No real plot, the bikes and styles looked legit, a good feel for '60s-'70's.  The photobook was basically the storyboard for the movie itself.  In the end, it was just another biker movie but with top notch actors. 

spoiler question (move on)
The only plot guess was the Bugeater, I'm guess they murdered the guys that beat him up and then winged him to make it look like self defense?  Hard to figure since there was a missing scene.

[yrunvs]

hollywood garbage

[moto]

hollywood garbage

Insightful review.

The two things that set it apart from Hollywood garbage in my own opinion are, first that 70% of the dialogue is from recorded interviews in 1965. All those characters' soliloquies are from real life. Second, the photography is based on and really an homage to the great photographs in Lyon's book. Some Hollywood plotting has admittedly been added to make the small book into a full movie, but I had to do some googling to find that out. Maybe you have to buy the book to enjoy the movie.

[Frulk]

I’ll watch it at home when it streams for rent. I noticed today that services have raised the price again for 1st run movies from $19.99 to 24.99 to RENT and up to $31.99 to buy. I’ll wait until a price cut goes below that profit margin to rent it.

Since cell phones became so prevalent and general public decorum had taken such a nose dive I’ve lost my enthusiasm for attending in theater.  These two developments were the primary reason why I sunk a good chunk of change into building a modular home theater in the basement as we were finishing it last year. I realized with the newer flatscreens (I’m up to 85 inches currently but have room to go larger) and Bluetooth speakers and the privacy with no distractions I’m never going back. Now if I could just make some decent popcorn…

Back to the movie…saw the trailers and am interested. I like all bikes and look forward to watching it. While I like Tom Hardy I’m beginning to think he’s pretty one dimensional. In all his roles he seems to be the same character just in different movies. He’s good mind you but it’s getting a little stale (to me at least).

Forgot to add….Cliffrod…watched your video. Simply spectacular craftsmanship. I’m glad a marine was the recipient of that.

[Tkelly]

Looking forward to seeing it.I grew up about a mile from the CiceroIL bar where the pool table scenes take place and am curious to see any Chicago locales.In the 70s if you bike was stolen and you knew the right guy with the Outlaws,it could be ransomed if not already parted out.Interesting that the author was able to hang out and photograph Civil rights marchers and about as big a group of racists and criminals then living.Too bad we don’t have politicians  able to do that today.

[frozengoose]

Looking forward to seeing it.I grew up about a mile from the CiceroIL bar where the pool table scenes take place and am curious to see any Chicago locales.In the 70s if you bike was stolen and you knew the right guy with the Outlaws,it could be ransomed if not already parted out.Interesting that the author was able to hang out and photograph Civil rights marchers and about as big a group of racists and criminals then living.Too bad we don’t have politicians  able to do that today.

Interesting, I grew up in that area in the 50's & 60's, went to Morton H.S. Don't remember anything about biker gangs back then. Maybe I missed it. I'll have to check the movie out. We just re-watched "Best Bar in America", now that's a decent biker flick!

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

While I like Tom Hardy I’m beginning to think he’s pretty one dimensional. In all his roles he seems to be the same character just in different movies. He’s good mind you but it’s getting a little stale (to me at least).

He is good at it though! Typical typecasting for someone who looks like him. Don't think anyone has him in mind to play a famous cellist. I liked him most as Eames, the forger, in Inception. One of few roles where his character was given more mind than muscle.

Here's a good video with Jeff Milburn, best known as a stuntman but he also sourced the bikes for the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGtqg24cO6o

And the actors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaCLY0uafJA

[cliffrod]

I’ll watch it at home when it streams for rent. I noticed today that services have raised the price again for 1st run movies from $19.99 to 24.99 to RENT and up to $31.99 to buy. I’ll wait until a price cut goes below that profit margin to rent it.

Since cell phones became so prevalent and general public decorum had taken such a nose dive I’ve lost my enthusiasm for attending in theater.  These two developments were the primary reason why I sunk a good chunk of change into building a modular home theater in the basement as we were finishing it last year. I realized with the newer flatscreens (I’m up to 85 inches currently but have room to go larger) and Bluetooth speakers and the privacy with no distractions I’m never going back. Now if I could just make some decent popcorn…

Back to the movie…saw the trailers and am interested. I like all bikes and look forward to watching it. While I like Tom Hardy I’m beginning to think he’s pretty one dimensional. In all his roles he seems to be the same character just in different movies. He’s good mind you but it’s getting a little stale (to me at least).

Forgot to add….Cliffrod…watched your video. Simply spectacular craftsmanship. I’m glad a marine was the recipient of that.

Thank you for the compliment and thank you for your service.  Morgan was not a man who retired well to a life of luxury, but he was a sincere friend and asked me about a stone shortly before he died.  He was a true guru at the shop and meant a lot to all of us, so we did it as a group effort.  Some others pitched in for stone and other costs and I did my part.  I got his boots and some of his irises to plant.  Really special job to cut for an old friend.  It was also the last stone that will be installed in that graveyard, which was a special opportunity to shine.

I agree with your comments on Tom Hardy.  As much as I like watching a movie with him in it, everything he does is beginning to look like the same movie.

[Dave Swanson]

Just saw it with my daughter and enjoyed it quite a lot.  I was especially impressed with Jodie Comer's performance! 

I've had Danny Lyon's book in my collection for many years and I am especially impressed with how true they kept to it.  Of course just watching and listening to a bunch of old Harleys was worth the ticket price. 

I will go see it again before it leaves the big screen.  Not many movies, even good ones, I can say that about.

[LowRyter]

Looking forward to seeing it.I grew up about a mile from the CiceroIL bar where the pool table scenes take place and am curious to see any Chicago locales.In the 70s if you bike was stolen and you knew the right guy with the Outlaws,it could be ransomed if not already parted out.Interesting that the author was able to hang out and photograph Civil rights marchers and about as big a group of racists and criminals then living.Too bad we don’t have politicians  able to do that today.

The movie was filmed in Cincinnati, KY/OH

[wrbix]

Just what our community of MOTORCYCLISTS needs - another BIKER movie! 🙄

[blackcat]

Just saw it with my daughter and enjoyed it quite a lot.  I was especially impressed with Jodie Comer's performance! 

I've had Danny Lyon's book in my collection for many years and I am especially impressed with how true they kept to it.  Of course just watching and listening to a bunch of old Harleys was worth the ticket price. 

I will go see it again before it leaves the big screen.  Not many movies, even good ones, I can say that about.

We saw it yesterday afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed the film.

[SemperVee]

  I remember shovelheads as first two harleys of mine were  (73 + 74) .  I've not seen movie yet.
 Here is the MC background story of the movie for us  >>   
https://americanrider.com/american-motorcycle-features/jeff-milburn-behind-the-scenes-of-the-bikeriders/2024/06/19

[blackcat]

  I remember shovelheads as first two harleys of mine were  (73 + 74) .  I've not seen movie yet.
 Here is the MC background story of the movie for us  >>   
https://americanrider.com/american-motorcycle-features/jeff-milburn-behind-the-scenes-of-the-bikeriders/2024/06/19

Good read and video of Milburn.

[moto]

Just what our community of MOTORCYCLISTS needs - another BIKER movie! 🙄

Danny Lyon, the author of the book by the same title, explained that bikerider was a common name for motorcycle riders in general in the Midwest when he rode in the 1960s. He said it did not mean what biker means now. Just so you know. I remember saying we rode bikes without implying we were bikers in the sense popular now.

[wrbix]

OK, perhaps….but this movie certainly portrays “bike riders” as the gang-associated, violent, antisocial types; does it not?

[balvenie]

Just saw it with my daughter and enjoyed it quite a lot.  I was especially impressed with Jodie Comer's performance! 

I've had Danny Lyon's book in my collection for many years and I am especially impressed with how true they kept to it.  Of course just watching and listening to a bunch of old Harleys was worth the ticket price. 

I will go see it again before it leaves the big screen.  Not many movies, even good ones, I can say that about.

At Last someone has mentioned the name of Jodie Comer. Thank you Dave Swanson