“The Bikeriders” kicks off Telluride Festival and positions Jodie Comer in the running for inaugural Oscar nomination.

Jeff Nichols, the writer and director, helms the 20th Century Studios movie, with Austin Butler and Tom Hardy as co-stars.

“The Bikeriders,” a drama directed and written by Jeff Nichols, known for films like “Take Shelter,” “Mud,” and “Loving,” inaugurated the 50th Telluride Film Festival at the Werner Herzog Theatre with its annual Patron’s Preview screening on Thursday afternoon.

With a budget of $40 million, the movie is an adaptation of Danny Lyon’s 1968 book of the same name. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on December 1 by 20th Century Studios (Disney). The film chronicles the ascent and downfall of a Chicago biker “club” from 1965 to 1973, narrated through the perspective of the love interest, played by Jodie Comer, of one of the bikers, portrayed by Austin Butler. This biker is deeply dedicated to both the group and its leader, portrayed by Tom Hardy, as he is to his romantic partner.

A finely crafted period piece reminiscent of David Chase’s cinematic works like “Not Fade Away” (2012) and “The Many Saints of Newark” (2021), “The Bikeriders” stands out with its bold accents, intense violence, and a central “family” of men. Its primary awards potential appears to rest on Jodie Comer’s outstanding performance, which could feasibly contend for nominations in either the lead or supporting actress categories.

Comer, sounding remarkably different from her usual self and far from her Emmy-winning role in “Killing Eve,” impresses with her portrayal. The 30-year-old actress, fresh from a Tony win earlier this year for her remarkable solo performance in “Prima Facie” and a near-miss Oscar nomination two years ago for “The Last Duel,” once again undergoes a remarkable transformation and carries the film with her performance.

While the male ensemble delivers solid performances, they mainly embody the archetype of strong, silent characters reminiscent of Marlon Brando in “The Wild One,” the 1953 biker film acknowledged within the movie. It is Comer who infuses the film with its emotional core and resonance.