The Bikeriders (Collector’s Edition) [4K Ultra HD]

Director: Jeff Nichols

Cast: Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy

Release Date: August 13, 2024

A Review By: Kevin Lovell

Film Rating: 9/10
Disc Rating: 7/10

Synopsis:

The Bikeriders captures a rebellious time in America when the culture and people were changing. After a chance encounter at a local bar, strong-willed Kathy (Jodie Comer) is inextricably drawn to Benny (Austin Butler), the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals, led by the enigmatic Johnny (Tom Hardy). Much like the country around it, the club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence, forcing Benny to choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.

‘The Bikeriders’ follows the events revolving around an early motorcycle club and chronicles the beginning of the club and through its more uncertain years, all presented through the stories told by those involved that were documented by a young photojournalist. The story primarily focuses on a young, carefree rebel named Benny and Kathy, the woman he falls madly in love with which eventually leads to consternation between Benny, Kathy and the club’s leader Johnny.  Initially beginning as a simple riding club, the world of the MC slowly begins to change as new riders and folks from other areas want to become involved, leading to a more chaotic and violent environment.

Written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Midnight Special, Mud) and inspired by the book “The Bikeriders” by Danny Lyon, Nichols does an outstanding job at the helm of ‘The Bikeriders’ guiding the powerful tale along with a great deal of heart and care for the characters and the world they occupy. The film’s cast includes Jodie Comer (Free Guy), Austin Butler (Elvis), Tom Hardy (Dunkirk), Michael Shannon (The Flash), Michael Faist (Challengers), Boyd Holbrook (Vengeance), Damon Herriman (Run Rabbit Run) and Norman Reedus (TV’s The Walking Dead) who each provide solid and in some cases outstanding performances in their respective roles.

‘The Bikeriders’ is a powerful and passionate look at the early era of motorcycle clubs and chronicles the rise and struggles of a local MC with simple intentions and a passion for bikes that evolves into something none of them could have anticipated. With new chapters and potential members seeking out involvement at every turn and other clubs causing friction within, the peaceful world of the club quickly escalates and violence soon begins to take its toll, both on the members of the club and the danger arising from the various threats and competitors, not to mention from those who want their own piece of it all and are willing to do anything necessary in order to secure it.

It’s a carefully crafted tale that exudes heart and passion for the material and the timeframe it takes place, while doing a tremendous job of replicating the era in everything from the bikes themselves to the clothing and surroundings. Filmmaker Jeff Nichols displays a clear love for the world and the colorful collection of characters that populate it, and his expert guidance is only boosted significantly by a powerhouse cast led by Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy who are each nothing short of magnificent in their roles, while much of the supporting cast is equally marvelous.

Overall, ‘The Bikeriders’ is an engaging, thrilling and touching ride that explores the world from an open perspective and does a tremendous job of bringing it to life, while keeping things simple enough that any casual viewer should be easily able to appreciate the film whether or not you’re overly familiar with the world it explores or the book that serves as its inspiration. If you’re a fan of writer/director Jeff Nichols, any of the key (or supporting) cast, or if you’re simply intrigued by the premise or the film itself, then ‘The Bikeriders’ is highly recommended and most certainly well worth taking the time to check out. It’s a fantastic film and one that I wouldn’t suggest overlooking if it’s already grabbed your attention in any way.

VIDEO:

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of ‘The Bikeriders’ features a full 2160p Ultra High Definition presentation with HDR-10, presented in its original 2.39:1 Aspect Ratio. The video presentation looks fantastic as a whole and provides a clean, sharp and richly detailed presentation from start to finish that never suffers from any notable issues or faults to be uncovered along the way. Detail is solid throughout with character faces and clothing, along with the various city streets and landscapes and the various indoor settings all looking wonderful. The HDR-10 addition only complements much of it by contributing some rich, lifelike colors that are noticeable on clothing, outdoor settings and more. Overall, this is a very nice Ultra High Definition video presentation that holds up capably every step of the way and it should easily please fans and first time viewers alike.

AUDIO:

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release features a Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 channel compatible) soundtrack. Please note that this review pertains solely to the Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio presentation. This multichannel soundtrack is quite a treat in its own right and delivers a clean, crisp and hard hitting audio presentation throughout. It utilizes all seven available channels quite frequently in order to send music, roaring bikes, nature effects and plenty more moving throughout the various speakers whenever fitting, while never allowing any other audio elements to be negatively affected in the process. It also gives the subwoofer a chance to really go wild with the rumbling of the bikes repeatedly shaking the floor and room. Overall, this is a great Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible) soundtrack that sounds solid at every turn and shouldn’t disappoint in the slightest.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of ‘The Bikeriders’ includes some enjoyable extras including an ‘Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Jeff Nichols’, along with a few Behind the Scenes Featurettes that include interviews/comments with the cast and crew, plus behind the scenes footage and more. The included Featurettes are ‘Johnny, Benny, & Kathy’ (running approximately 5 minutes in length), ‘The Era of The Bikeriders’ (running approximately 3 minutes) and ‘The Filmmaker’s Eye: Jeff Nichols’ (approximately 3 minutes).

*Please note that the above images are taken from the Blu-Ray disc included in the 4K UHD Combo Pack and resized. They do not represent the quality of the 4K Ultra HD disc itself and will additionally suffer quality loss as a result of .jpg compression. Larger versions of each image can be viewed by clicking on the image. All images and content included on the 4K UHD & Blu-Ray release are the property of their respective owners.

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Film Rating: 9/10
Disc Rating: 7/10

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‘The Bikeriders’ Arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & DVD August 13, 2024 & is Now Available on Digital from Focus Features & Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

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You can purchase your copy of ‘The Bikeriders’ on 4K UHD at Amazon HERE!

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