Friday Film Review: Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, directed by Scott Cooper and inspired by Warren Zanes’ book, offers an intimate and raw portrait of Bruce Springsteen at a pivotal moment in his life. Instead of focusing on his rise to fame, the film highlights a quieter, introspective period of emotional challenges and artistic transformation.
Setting and Storyline
The narrative unfolds in the early 1980s, following the huge success of The River. Exhausted by fame, Springsteen withdraws to a simple rental in New Jersey. Equipped with a four-track recorder and burdened by unresolved memories, he starts crafting Nebraska, an album that replaces his usual large-scale anthems with sparse, haunting stories.
Performances
- Jeremy Allen White portrays Springsteen with depth, expressing the struggles of fame, self-doubt, and isolation. White also performs all the singing in the film, a feat Bruce Springsteen himself applauded:
“I couldn’t tell who was singing on some tracks.”
- Stephen Graham plays Springsteen’s father in black-and-white flashbacks, revealing the pain and complex history that shaped Bruce’s music.
Summary
This film skillfully captures a contemplative chapter in Springsteen’s career, emphasizing his emotional and creative rebirth beyond public acclaim.
Author’s summary: The film reveals a lesser-known phase where Springsteen confronts personal struggles, crafting haunting music that marked a profound artistic shift.