The Bikeriders - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Loosely inspired by Danny Lyon's 1968 photo book of the same name, The Bikeriders is not a particularly good or memorable movie but neither is it a bad one. It's stuck somewhere between the filmmakers' aspirations to ostensively romanticize the rise and fall of the Vandals Motorcycle Club, a fictionalized version of the real-life Outlaws Motorcycle Club depicted in the forenamed book, and a rather disjointedly episodic script written by director Jeff Nichols that doesn't quite satisfy those lofty ambitions. Throughout this relatively straightforward tale that frankly feels like Goodfellas meets Easy Rider sprinkled with the mien of The Wild One — the latter of which are both explicitly mentioned — several moments showcase Nichols's goal with mild fascination. But none of them truly come together to tell a cohesive, overarching narrative that fully engages the audience as it attempts to capture the day-to-day dealings of the club leading to its downfall. 

Piecemealed from various events over a ten-year period, anchoring the story is Kathy Bauer (Jodie Comer), wife of high-ranking member Benny Cross (Austin Butler), being interviewed by Lyons (Mike Faist), who is never seen without a microphone, tape recorder or camera in hand. Kathy is the only fleshed-out character with an engrossing personality that is both comical and tragic all at once, a naive yet resilient woman enchanting the screen with her Midwestern charm. And out of an ensemble cast that also includes Michael Shannon, Boyd Holbrook, and Norman Reedus, Comer is the standout star of the entire production, undoubtedly and effortlessly eclipsing the performances of the other stars. What the award-winning British actor of Shawn Levy's Free Guy and Ridley Scott's The Last Duel does with the character, from a spot-on accent to her small quirky mannerisms, is nothing short of phenomenal and absolutely captivating. 

Unfortunately, the same can't be said of her costars, Butler and Tom Hardy, with an equal level of enthusiasm, which is not to suggest their performances are disappointing. In fact, Butler, whose sensational portrayal of Elvis in Baz Luhrmann's epic bio-drama stunned audiences, is great as the young hot-headed man staunchly devoted to the club, so much so that he'll take a severe beating for refusing to remove the club's colors. However, the one-dimensional character falls short of giving us an impression of what attracts Kathy to him, especially in the many moments when she should leave him, instead bearing repeated humiliation for nothing more than because the script demands it. Hardy's Johnny Davis is more endearing as the truck-driving family man who wanted a club for like-minded enthusiasts but slowly loses control as it expands and is embroiled in criminal activity. But sadly, we're made to watch him from a distance and in short snippets, making his tragic demise feel empty and less moving than Nichols aimed for. 

The real tragedy of The Bikeriders is seeing great performances from amazingly talented actors wasted in a story that could have been stronger if Nichols had focused more on the love triangle between the three main protagonists — Benny torn between his love and loyalty to Johnny's familial club and a future with Kathy. To be fair, Nichols, the mind behind the superior Take Shelter and Mud, attempts an interesting journalistic approach to the material, making this film more of a curiosity than genuinely engaging. The cinematography of long-time collaborator Adam Stone furnishes Nichols' vision with stunning shots of the characters and various shooting locations, energizing each moment with a nostalgic sensibility. Although the script doesn't have much gas in the tank, the film nonetheless beautifully captures a tumultuous period of motorcycle history transitioning from the romantic idolization of freedom afforded by bike riding to a dark appetite for organized crime. (Movie Rating: 3/5)

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray
Universal Studios Home Entertainment steers Jeff Nichols' The Bikeriders to 4K Ultra HD club as a two-disc combo pack with a Digital Copy code, unlocking the 4K Dolby Vision HDR version with Dolby Atmos. The triple-layered UHD100 disc sits comfortably opposite a Region Free, BD50 disc inside a black, eco-elite case with a glossy slipcover. At startup, the disc goes straight to a static screen with the usual options and music playing in the background.

Nichols' latest feature debuts on Ultra HD with some interesting results, and while not exactly the sort to impress fence-sitters, the HEVC H.265 encode nonetheless appears to be a faithful and quite attractive representation of the filmmakers' creative choices. Sourced from a 4K digital intermediate, the freshly minted transfer falls on the softer side of things, but overall definition is still relatively sharp and detailed throughout. This seems to be a deliberate approach to the material, possibly due to shooting with diffusion filters or a slightly soft focus, giving the picture a dated look. This is also true of the palette, which leans heavily on earth tones, lavishing the cinematography in deep, full-bodied browns, oranges and yellows, but primaries are still accurately rendered if also noticeably toned-down and low-key. Although looking somewhat muted and restrained for keeping with the '60s and '70s aesthetic, the HDR10 presentation comes with a strong contrast and brightness balance, supplying the visuals with clean, spot-on whites and tight, crisp specular highlights. Black levels provide the 2.39:1 image with dark midnight shadows without sacrificing the finer details in the murkiest shadows. All in all, this is a beautiful-looking video that nicely complements the story and setting. (HDR10 Video Rating: 80/100)

The crime drama rides into home theaters with a tiptop and satisfying Dolby Atmos soundtrack that unexpectedly enhances the visuals but isn't the sort to really test one's system. Like the video, this object-based mix is the result of some creative choices that maintain a rigid focus on the character interactions and dialogue, which are always crystal-clear with exceptional intonation in the performances. The overall design is a front-heavy presentation displaying excellent balance as background activity convincingly pans between the three front channels and lightly bleeds into the top heights, creating a spacious and welcoming half-dome soundstage. A few understated atmospherics occasionally travel overhead and into the surrounds, but the best moments come from scenes involving motorcycles as the loud rumbling engines echo all around the listener while exhibiting a clean, dynamic mid-range with room-penetrating clarity. A robust and extensive low-end further heightens these moments with a booming, thundering presence that genuinely adds a sense of intimidation every time the gang roars on screen. (Dolby Atmos Audio Rating: 78/100)

The movie arrives in Ultra HD with a small but interesting collection of bonus features.

• Audio Commentary with writer and director Jeff Nichols sharing his thoughts on the overall production, from adapting the book and casting to some of the technical aspects
• Johnny, Benny, & Kathy (HD, 5 min) is made of various interviews and BTS footage focusing on the three main protagonists, the performances and accurately adapting a photo book
• The Era of The Bikeriders (HD, 3 min) briefly details the production design and costuming, looking at the work done to capture the right look of the Midwest during the '60s and '70s
• The Filmmaker's Eye (HD, 3 min) is as the title suggest, an interview with Nichols about adapting the book and his stylistic choices, and the casts chime in to share their thoughts

Loosely inspired by Danny Lyon's 1968 photo book, Jeff Nichols' adaptation The Bikeriders makes for an intriguing watch, mainly for the impressive production design and outstanding performances that belong in a better movie. Starring Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy, the script doesn't have much gas in the tank to engage viewers and keep them invested in this ride about a tumultuous period of motorcycle history. The crime drama steers into the Ultra HD club with a beautiful 4K HDR10 presentation and a satisfying Dolby Atmos soundtrack. With a small collection of supplements, the overall package manages a Recommended watch. 

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