From a leather-clad Marlon Brando in “The Wild One” to the hippie rebels of “Easy Rider” or Tom Cruise in almost every one of his movies from the last 20 years, there isn’t a quicker way to tell the audience that a character doesn’t play by the rules than putting them on a motorcycle.
But our memories of these movies can be tricky. We remember the first acts when the protagonists drive through open country with the wind whipping past. We diminish the third act, where they meet their fate (which usually involves being beaten or killed by a group of locals).
These movies are about the tension between outsiders and society and the perceived threat these motorcyclists represent when they roll into town. That we mythologize these characters as beacons of freedom is ironic since most of us would likely be the antagonists in these movies. Equating motorcycles with freedom also reduces the complexity of the characters who ride them. It separates them from their bad choices, which, in the pantheon of outlaw biker films, there are plenty.
“The Bikeriders,” which opens at The Triplex this week, attempts to ground the motorcycle movie in reality. Based on Danny Lyon’s chronicling of a real-life motorcycle gang in the 1960s, writer and director Jeff Nichols approaches the material with a gritty, anthropological lens. There is still a brooding sense of romance imbued throughout the movie (especially when Tom Hardy and Austin Butler share the screen), but Nichols focuses on the dark, messy qualities that erode the mythos of the club’s members and reduce them to common criminals.
Now the question is how will we remember “The Bikeriders” years from now? As an honest depiction of the faults, failings, and appeal of motorcycle counterculture? Or another movie where actors looked great in leather jackets, with the wind whipping through their hair?
Now Playing
“Thelma”
An indie action-comedy starring the legendary June Squibb.
The Sundance smash hit comes to The Triplex for one week only! Featuring legendary character actor June Squibb in her first leading role, “Thelma” is the story of a 90-year-old grandmother who sets out on a hilarious quest for revenge after falling victim to a phone scam. Featuring Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and the late Richard Roundtree in his final role, Thelma is set to be the indie comedy hit of the summer!
“Thelma” plays from June 21 through 27 as part of The Triplex’s Limited Engagement series.
“Inside Out 2”
The smash-hit sequel continues at The Triplex.
Things are getting a little crowded inside Riley’s head. The long-awaited follow-up to Pixar’s 2015 animated smash-hit, “Inside Out 2” follows Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust as they deal with a new class of emotions brought on by Riley’s preteen years, including Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui.
“A Quiet Place: Day One”
See how the world went silent on June 28. The prequel to John Krasinski’s horror hit follows Sam (Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o) as she navigates New York City following an invasion of ultrasonic-hearing aliens who can hear your every move.
“Despicable Me 4”
It takes an evil genius to be a dad. Gru and family welcome baby Gru Jr. in “Despicable Me 4″—and immediately find themselves on the run from new supervillains Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Sofia Vergara) in this latest entry in the beloved family franchise.
“Fly Me to the Moon”
Sharp, stylish, and full of ’60s style, “Fly Me To The Moon” is a classic rom-com set during the heart of the space race. As the Apollo 11 launch nears, NASA brings in marketing maven Kelly (Scarlett Johansson) to protect their image (and potentially fake the moon landing), putting her on a romantic collision course with launch director Cole (Channing Tatum).
