Crazy Seafood
847 Riverdale St., West Springfield
If it were up to me, I would eat seafood every day. I feel fortunate to have grown up in a New England culture synonymous with flavorful fish. From flakey haddock to succulent clams, New England’s seafood covers all bases of seafood sensibilities.
Amidst the traditional New England eateries, Crazy Seafood in West Springfield introduces a potent kick of Cajun flair. The lavish restaurant elevates time-honored classics into a new realm of seafood mastery.
Crazy Seafood’s menu is daunting at first glance, primarily because there are endless enticing entrees. Rustic fried fish baskets, spicy seafood pastas, and hearty seafood boils are just some of the marquee dishes eliciting southern savoriness. The boils are especially eye-catching, delivering a mammoth portion that would satisfy any seafood enthusiast.
I love the stylistic fusion on display throughout Crazy Seafood’s eclectic menu. A deftly constructed marriage between Cajun Americana and Asian influences generates dishes ubiquitous to the charming restaurant. It is part of what makes Crazy Seafood such a beloved eatery in the crowded seafood space.
New to Theaters: “Bikeriders”
In late 1960s Chicago, a rowdy roundup of roughrider bikers live a lifestyle of scenic rides and exuberant parties. The ensemble includes their fearless leader Johnny, the young and magnetic recluse Benny, who captures the heat of the strong-willed Kathy Cross, and a cast of colorful characters. Suddenly, though, the group is faced with seismic change as they embark into the 1970s in “The Bikeriders.”
Movies like “The Bikeriders” are a rarity in the modern Hollywood ecosystem, which remains driven by bombastic blockbusters and recognizable brands. I greatly appreciate writer-director Jeff Nichols for resuscitating life into genres from a bygone era. Whether it’s Spielbergian sci-fi tales like “Midnight Special” or atmospheric dramas such as “Mud,” Nichols consistently displays a keen eye for recontextualizing old-school sensibilities.
“Bikeriders” may be Nichols’s most rose-colored feature to date. This nostalgic throwback roars at a comforting wavelength that captures its subjects with reverence and sophistication.
The film operates in two distinct sensibilities. The easygoing first half glides at an infectiously laidback pace, emanating the comforting glow of a hangout experience between close-knit friends. Each character is drawn with vivid personalities, from a wildcard drifter who always stumbles into trouble to an oddball biker boasting the wisdom of a sage philosopher (both characters are played brilliantly, by Norman Reedus and Michael Shannon, respectively).
Nichols captures the collective camaraderie with a warm and nostalgic eye. His conversations flow from crackling punchlines to naturally introspective insights with remarkable grace. Nichols’ poised eye also captures the 1960s glow, intermixing period artifacts and old-school sensibilities to reconjure the magic of yesteryear.
As the rider gang accelerates ahead, “Bikeriders” drifts into a decidedly dour second half. A transition to the 1970s introduces a vulgar cultural clash as violent teenagers transform the biker gang’s values into an excuse for carnage. This harsh change crashes the film’s soft-spoken characters into a harsh reality — the lifestyle they chased is no longer in their grasp.
I credit “Bikeriders” for articulating thoughtful meditations without overstretching itself. Many rightfully spotlight the portraits of masculine dynamics, often driven by simmering emotions and clumsy attempts at catharsis. To me, “Bikeriders” is at its most self-reflexive when deconstructing the aura of cool. The machismo biker bravado stands as a lofty ambition to someone like Johnny, yet it ultimately represents a hollow symbol one could only dream of being immortalized as.
Part of what makes this film’s complexities shine is the electrifying cast. Simply put, Austin Butler is a bona fide movie star. He radiates magnetism through each expressive glance, capturing Benny as a man of few words who carries an irresistible presence and a mountain of burdens. In stark contrast, Tom Hardy and Jordie Cormer grab the screen through their dynamic personalities. Both actors don Chicago accents with mixed results, although the core of their efforts always captures genuine truths. I especially enjoyed Johnny and Kathy’s bickering relationship as the two figures who care most about Benny.
“Bikeriders” is a refreshing palate cleanser, and while the film has struggled to find an audience theatrically, I implore readers interested in adult-oriented fare to give it a look.
