Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere - A Bold Biography of the Boss

Hooking Up the Instruments

Buy your ticket and grab a seat, because one of the biggest names in music is hitting the big screen to tell his life’s story! Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is the latest biographical film based on the life of a prolific musician, a subgenre which has seen increased popularity over the years. As the title suggests, this one is based on the life of rock-and-roll icon Bruce Springsteen – also known as the Boss – who is also a New Jersey native. Springsteen has been involved in the film industry as both a songwriter and script inspiration, but he has never been the subject of his own biographical movie.

Now, his story is finally in theaters nationwide, during a time when musician biopics have become much more frequent and gained a sizable audience. Films like Bohemian Rhapsody, Straight Outta Compton, and A Complete Unknown saw great success in their theatrical runs and even garnered several award nominations. Deliver Me from Nowhere is the latest to join that club as the film earned a positive ovation from critics and currently tracks an opening weekend total of around $10 million. 

As a fan of Springsteen’s music and this subgenre, I was excited to check this movie out, especially since I was not as familiar with the Boss’s story behind the microphone. In fact, part of the reason why I love musician-themed biopics so much is because they introduce audiences to a grander picture which these lyrical icons face. Though some take creative liberties and even introduce fictionalized plot points, I still find myself enthralled by the stories these biographies tell, leading me to be among the crowd which attends each new biopic as they come out. As such, I was hopeful that this film could help me learn something new about Springsteen, while also connecting me more with his music.

Enthusiastically, I booked my ticket at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield on Saturday, Oct. 25, to catch this all-new music story. As the Boss played his final notes, I was left with one question: did this movie do the New Jersey icon justice, or was it a sour note in comparison to other musician biographies?

The Performance Begins

This film tells the story of Springsteen as he records and creates his beloved 1982 album, Nebraska. But as the album progresses and he verges close to superstardom, Springsteen finds himself fighting with his own inner demons, with traumatic memories of his past resurfacing. The story tracks Springsteen as he not only continues to record tracks for Nebraska, but also attempts to come to terms with and accept his past.

Directed by Scott Cooper – who helmed the Academy Award-winning Crazy Heart – the film stars a talented ensemble including Jeremy Allen White, Paul Walter Hauser, Jeremy Strong, Odessa Young, and Stephen Graham among others.

In the grand scheme of other musician biopics, I found this one to be a strong addition to the subgenre. Though not without its issues, this still served as a fascinating examination of Springsteen’s life both in and out of the recording booth. The story is told effectively, balancing conflicts from his past with his personal relationships and recording process to provide strong senses of drama and even tension. It allows for great dramatic and emotional moments as a result, particularly in scenes involving Springsteen and his estranged father which are most common in the second half. 

The film’s drama does a captivating job at introducing viewers to Springsteen’s struggles, adding a layer of realism to his character arc as he struggles to balance out his conflicts. That said, the movie’s biggest issue also stems back to the drama: though these scenes are well-constructed, the pacing feels quite imbalanced. Compared to previous musician biopics like A Complete Unknown and Bohemian Rhapsody, this movie puts a heavier emphasis on the slower, more character-driven scenes opposed to the musical aspects. 

As a result, the scenes where Springsteen is performing in front of a massive crowd or recording a classic single like “Born in the U.S.A.” often fly by really quickly, while the slower scenes can drag longer than necessary. Though I respect the story and how it was told, I do wish there were a few more music sequences spliced into the runtime to find more balance.

On top of that, the story can also feel a bit crowded as it balances out a flurry of subplots – including the recording of Nebraska, the struggles of Springsteen’s mental psyche, his relationship with his estranged father, and a romantic fling with Young’s character, Faye Romano. Though each of these side stories are presented well, there are instances in which they can lack development and ultimately feel like padding. 

The biggest example comes from the romantic connection between Springsteen and Romano, which is introduced in the first act, nearly abandoned in the second, and concluded abruptly in the third. This concept is interesting on paper, but I believe the movie needed an extra 10 to 15 minutes to properly flesh out their bond and make it more focused. 

Dancers in the Dark

The film’s cast all does a stellar job at bringing their characters to life, each with their own unique layers of charisma and drama. The most noteworthy performer stands front and center on the poster: White as Springsteen. He portrays the musical icon with a perfect emotional weight which grows more and more rampant throughout the runtime, thereby making his character the most resounding of the entire ensemble. 

Adding more enhancement to the bit is his commitment to the music sequences, as White sang his own vocals rather than rely on lip-syncing, in both flamboyant tracks like “Born in the U.S.A.” and somber tunes like “Nebraska.” Mixed with his strong energy when performing in the recording booth or on stage, White embodies the Boss in a phenomenal way, making his performance worth the price of admission alone.

Another standout comes from Strong as Jon Landau, Springsteen’s manager and producer who assists him in the creation of Nebraska. While the latter usually acts ambitious, Landau serves more as the voice of reason, providing Springsteen with advice and help as he creates the album. Strong showcases many great traits throughout the runtime – including triumph, comfort, concern, and support – providing a strong (no pun intended) sense of variety in his performance. As a result, it helps Landau to stick out as one of the film’s most well-written characters, keeping even the slower scenes worthwhile with his presence and line delivery. 

The rest of the ensemble all do greatly as well, even if their characters don’t get much to do in comparison to Springsteen and Landau. Some other highlights include Graham as Springsteen’s conflict-ridden father Douglas and Young as love interest Romano. Though neither of them are necessarily in the spotlight, they still get chances to efficiently shine their skills in emotional acting, particularly Graham in the second half. They may not be as developed or memorable as the two primary protagonists, but I cannot deny the talent of the supporting cast in how they greatly embody their characters. 

A Concert to Remember

Despite the lack of music scenes in the final film, the ones it does feature easily serve as some of the overall highlights. Whether they are secluded to the recording booth or live in front of a massive crowd, every song-related sequence serves as a fantastic showcase of the movie’s energy and occasional heart. All the while, they further elevate White’s performance as his physical energy and vocal talents shine through both the silver screen and the theater’s speakers. 

For example, one of my favorite scenes in the movie came around midway through, when Springsteen and his band recorded the classic single, “Born in the U.S.A.” This is the sequence where White’s vocals stuck with me the most, as he loudly sang the profound lyrics in a way which electrified me. At that moment, I did not see White playing Springsteen; I saw and heard the Boss performing one of his greatest hits live in front of me and the nearly sold-out crowd in the auditorium.

Meanwhile, in sequences where Springsteen records tracks for Nebraska, a much more somber album compared to the rock he was known for at the time, White brings down the volume and slows the pace to properly create his vision. It even leads to a surprisingly well-written conflict as he struggles to find the right composition for the album’s title track. These scenes provide an interesting look at Springsteen’s creative process, while further illustrating White’s talent in encapsulating his vocal style.

The music aspects also help the sound design to shine, resultantly leading to enthralling gifts for the ears. On top of White’s magnificently varied singing styles, there are also many surrounding aspects – both technically and musically – to truly enhance the scene. Whether it be crowds screaming and chanting Springsteen’s name, instruments like percussion and guitars backing his vocals, or static distortion looming in a track’s background, every sound is appropriately amplified to transport audiences into the Boss’s world and its subsequent impact. 

Though the musical scenes may speed by faster compared to the drama, their fantastic sound design and execution help them feel more rewarding and worthwhile.

Born to Run

Overall, though it may suffer from slow pacing and subpar subplots, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere stands as a strong biopic thanks to its terrific cast, impeccable sound design, emotionally-effective drama, and captivating music sequences. It may not hold a candle to other films in the subgenre, but it still serves as a well-constructed dive into the Boss’s career.

If you’re a fan of Springsteen, musician-based dramas, or Cooper’s previous directorial works, this is a solid flick worth checking out. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is currently playing in movie theaters nationwide – including Mansfield’s own Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas. If you’re interested in witnessing the cinematic upbringing of a New Jersey icon, look no further than the Boss’s biopic!

It may not be without a few off beats, but this biopic still puts on an effective performance worthy of attending a second time.

My Rating