Probably the biggest question for the general public heading into ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’; do I have to be a fan of the Boss to enjoy it? The answer, I’m happy to say, is no.
….although it certainly doesn’t hurt.
The fact is, this ain’t your standard musical biopic. ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’ is a brief snapshot of a period of time in the career of Bruce Springsteen, albeit a vital one, the recording of his groundbreaking album ‘Nebraska’ and the internal battles the singer/songwriter was waging during that period. Thus, it’s a very intimate project. Those expecting rousing concert footage and the tale behind the rise of Springsteen will get glimpses of both, though it’s not really what this movie is about. Based on the 2023 book by Warren Zanes, ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’ is more of a deep look at an emotionally bruised artist and his cathartic journey in applying the wounds of his past to his craft than your typical “the story of..”. And really, you shouldn’t expect the ordinary from a subject matter that has always moved to the beat of his own drum.
It’s 1981, and Springsteen (Jeremy Allen White) is just wrapping up a national tour with the E Street Band. Naturally, the studio is wanting him to start working on a new album as quickly as possible to capitalize on his momentum, one chock full of peppy radio-friendly hits. His manager, Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong), knows his client well, and realizes his best work comes from as much room and space to create as possible, so finds him a cozy cottage in Colts Neck New Jersey, close to his hometown, to come up with a new masterpiece.
From there, Springsteen – knowing that super stardom is looming – looks at his near future with more dread than optimism; how can you leave your working class upbringing behind when you’ve never really brought closure to it? Thus, his memories dive into the past of being raised in a home with an alcoholic father (Stephen Graham), and a loving but anxiety-ridden mother (Gabby Hoffman). And the result of the ghosts haunting him is ‘Nebraska’, a project he produces himself, in his bedroom, on a four-track cassette recorder. Not wanting to compromise the passion of the work, that’s the version Bruce insists be released, not the crisp, clear shiny studio re-production. The resulting conflict with his record label isn’t just likely, it’s inevitable.
Even though we sometimes see traces of Carmine, White’s character from TV’s ‘The Bear’ (I suppose tortured looks are interchangeable), his performance as Springsteen is astounding. And while it’d be easy to praise the spot-on voice, posture, positioning, facial expressions, etc…..those are all more in line with an impression. It’s his performance that truly impresses. If ever awards were won on heart-breaking efforts alone, White should be making room on his mantle very, very soon.
I loved ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’. Loved it! Now, is that because I’m a big Springsteen fan? No….but it didn’t hurt.