Friday Film Review | Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
The film Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, directed by Scott Cooper and based on Warren Zanes’ book, offers an intimate portrayal of Bruce Springsteen during a deeply personal period. Instead of focusing on his rise to fame, it explores a quieter phase filled with emotional challenges and artistic transformation.
Setting and Story
Set in the early 1980s, the story follows Springsteen after the success of The River. Feeling exhausted by fame, he withdraws to a simple rental in New Jersey. There, using a four-track recorder and haunted by unresolved memories, he begins creating Nebraska, an album that contrasts his earlier anthems with raw, haunting storytelling.
Performances
- Jeremy Allen White portrays Springsteen with a powerful mix of vulnerability and intensity. He not only captures Bruce’s physical essence but also performs all the vocals himself — a skill Springsteen admired, stating he couldn’t distinguish the singer on some tracks.
- Stephen Graham plays Springsteen’s father in black and white flashbacks, depicting the complex and painful history behind Bruce’s music.
"I couldn’t tell who was singing on some tracks," said Springsteen, praising Jeremy Allen White's vocal performance.
This film dives deep into the emotional landscape behind the creation of one of Springsteen’s most introspective albums, illuminating the personal struggles that shaped his music.
Author's summary: The film captures Bruce Springsteen’s retreat from fame into a reflective journey of emotional healing and musical rebirth during the early 1980s.