‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’ is a brilliant biopic detailing the life of the talented musical icon Bruce Springsteen. Based on the book by Warren Zanes, the plot of the movie delves into the period of time when he created his 1982 album ‘Nebraska’. Set in his early 30s, he is dealing with pressures of life, from fame to creative blocks, all whilst learning to navigate relationships in both love and with his family. Bruce Springsteen is played by Jeremy Allen White, known for his acting credits on ‘The Bear’ and ‘Shameless’. The cast also includes the likes of Odessa Young, who plays his love interest Faye Romano and his father, played by the Emmy Award-winning actor Stephen Graham.
A refreshing biopic, it seamlessly balances two timelines, one focuses on him as an adult making the album and another goes back in time through flashbacks, unearthing his childhood experiences. ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’ didn’t necessarily follow the typical biopic convention where we follow the musician on his pursuit of fame and success; instead, we got to see the parallels between his childhood and adulthood and how that impacted his creativity, as well as his relationships with other people and the relationship with himself.
Stephen Graham does an impressive job in playing Bruce’s father and we witness him grapple with fatherhood. Turning to alcohol and unable to be an emotional support to his family, he has a fractured relationship with both his wife and son and stylistically the flashbacks into Bruce’s childhood were filmed in black and white. The lack of colour gave it a cold and stark feel and it lacked the vibrancy of colour. Interconnecting his childhood and adulthood gave depth to the film and an understanding of Bruce Springsteen on a human and personal level.
Learning more about Bruce Springsteen, the biopic reveals the creative process behind the album ‘Nebraska’, which was released back in 1982. Going against the grain, he begins to look inwards in a very introspective way as he births the songs for the album. Regardless to the external pressures of making a hit, he makes music for the soul and he pours his heart into it. Taking a creative risk, the music for the album ‘Nebraska’ was written around the time he recorded ‘Born in the U.S.A.’. Even though ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ was deemed a massive chart hit by his team, the film shows him advocating for his project ‘Nebraska’ to be released.
Although ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’ showcases the life of a superstar, it feels real and relatable. Tearing away the layers of fame and stardom, we see him confronted with common themes that people in their early 30s deal with. He is both understanding and coming to terms with his childhood, he’s amending relationships and even taking on more of a parental role with his own father. As well as trying to figure out his identity as a musician, learning the complexities of love through his encounters with Faye Romano, all while balancing the life of a rockstar.
