In the gritty motorcycle drama, "The Bikeriders," Austin Butler shines as the fresh recruit to the notorious Midwestern club, the Vandals, while Jodie Comer captivates as the woman who falls head over heels for him. For these two stars, diving into their 1960s personas meant tackling vastly differing hurdles.
While Butler's reserved character, Benny, speaks with fewer lines (a stark contrast to his eloquence in "Elvis"), Comer, a Liverpool-bred actress, embraced the Midwestern twang, avidly consuming audio recordings from the era to embody Kathy with authenticity. "I had the privilege of working with an exceptional dialect coach, Victoria, and was blessed to have access to a 30-minute audio interview of Kathy conducted by Danny Lyon in the 1960s," Comer reminisced.
Helmed by Jeff Nichols, "The Bikeriders" is a cinematic adaptation of Lyon's iconic 1968 photo book, chronicling a rough-and-tumble motorcycle gang led by the unyielding Johnny (Tom Hardy), with a colorful cast including the irascible Zipco (Michael Shannon), the laid-back Cal (Boyd Holbrook), and the quippy Funny Sonny from California (Norman Reedus). Mike Faist steps into the shoes of Lyon, capturing Kathy's chatter as he documents the bikers' adventures on film.
"It was a meticulous process of delving into that audio, dissecting every word, questioning Kathy's motives, and uncovering the truth beneath her words," Comer elaborated. Meanwhile, Butler faced the inverse challenge: conveying depth without the crutch of dialogue.
"Playing a character who speaks little isn't about silence; it's about the tumultuous thoughts beneath the surface," Butler shared with Yahoo Entertainment. "Finding those unspoken opinions and emotions was crucial. When dialogue is sparse, it's up to the actor to fill in the blanks."
At the heart of the narrative lies the budding romance between Comer's and Butler's characters. Comer expressed gratitude for their swift bond, remarking, "Our jobs often don't afford us the luxury of time to cultivate relationships, but we were fortunate to connect instantly. A pre-shoot dinner with Jeff Nichols set the tone, and our similar work ethics and playful energy allowed us to dive right into our characters."
Nichols, meticulous in recreating the era's essence, emphasized the significance of dialect, vernacular, and costume in shaping the characters. "When all the elements came together, it felt like stepping back in time. It was magical," he exclaimed. He further praised Comer's dedication, noting, "Accent is just one piece of the puzzle. The vernacular, the 1960s slang, reveals so much about a person's background, mindset, and humor. Jodie immersed herself in Kathy's world, making her portrayal undeniably authentic."
Comer concurred, expressing satisfaction with the hours spent honing her accent and Kathy's unique voice. "Having that extra tool was incredible when it came to filming," she said, looking ahead to the film's June 21st theatrical release.
