The bikeriders & thelma

Welcome our new blog contributor, Salah Bessiso! Salah will be doing movie reviews each week for your reading pleasure!

THE BIKERIDERS

Finally a movie with movie stars doing real movie star stuff! This is a fictionalized story based on a photo book of the same name, about the rise (and fall?) of the outlaw motorcycle club the Vandals. We've got Austin Butler smoldering (with Oscar worthy hair), Jodie Comer sassing and Tom Hardy brooding, all delivering terrific star worthy performances. Everyone is doing an insane accent, adding it to the ever growing Tom Hardy Weird Voice Club. Director Jeff Nichols uses the late 60s period setting exceptionally well and I appreciated the more subtle music cues throughout. Overall there isn't quite enough dramatic tension, the movie kinda meanders a little bit but it's still a good time at the movies. ***/4 stars

THELMA

94 year old industry vet and Oscar nominee June Squibb has her very first starting feature! This is a very funny very sweet "action" comedy about an old woman who gets phone scammed out of her savings and her quest for justice. The late great Richard Roundtree (his last film role) joins her on a motorized scooter and away they go. The "action" scenes are hilarious scooter chases with Squibb doing all her own stunts. It might cover some familiar territory about growing older but everyone is so fun and completely committed. Shout-out to my homegirl and bro Parker Poser and Clark Gregg as her well meaning but neurotic family. Did I cry at the end? You bet your ass I did! One of the best movies of the year. ****/4