Based on Warren Zanes 2023 book Deliver Me From Nowhere- The Making of Bruce
Springsteen’s Nebraska, this film adaptation is set in the early 80’s, in Springsteen’s hometown
of New Jersey, the Garden State. Not for nothing but NJ has immense beauty despite bearing the scars. What beautiful, human thing doesn’t? In ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’, Springsteen’s invisible scars are revealed- the sacrifice and personal struggle that drove him as he created his beautifully raw, moody album Nebraska. Deliver Me From Nowhere is not a flashy, superficial biopic under a time crunch. Instead of being expansive, the film centers on a period of Springsteen’s life where he struggles with
depression, confronts his childhood, his flaws, and his impending stardom while trying to write
his next album.
Jeremy Allen White lends necessary intensity to the role of Bruce Springsteen, deftly bringing a
sense of The Boss’s passion to musical performances, and the creative process. The film
seems to ask viewers to bear witness, but we’re not alone in this. Springsteen is also witnessing
himself change. The scenes flow seamlessly between black and white flashbacks of his difficult childhood with his abusive father Douglas (played by Stephen Graham), protective mother Adele (played by Gaby Hoffman), and his post-tour difficulties. He plays at local clubs, trying to stay connected to his community. He visits his dilapidated family home, processing and confronting the impact of his past. Springsteen’s rising stardom challenges all of this. He’s coping with loneliness and depression, and he’s ill prepared for romance with Faye Romano (played by Odessa Young) who is a composite of relationships he had at the time.
But romantic relationships are not as central to this telling as others. Springsteen’s manager, Landau, is endlessly patient and his strongest ally. He supported Nebraska, painstakingly helping Springsteen achieve his vision for the album and unwavering with the label that doesn’t care for or value the album’s deviation from the mainstream. Bruce and Jon’s friendship keeps the musician grounded. Also at his side is Mike Batlan (played by Paul Walter Hauser), the music tech who helped create the in-home studio that Springsteen made the original recordings of Nebraska on.
Bruce Springsteen has said that the stage has been an escape. In Deliver Me From Nowhere you
witness Springsteen trying to cope when that escape is no longer enough, and he realizes that
running can’t save him. The film is solidly cast with strong performances that help save it from running too shallow. It’s a good examination of Springsteen’s artistry, dedication to creating a great album and telling a story. Like Nebraska, the storytelling in Deliver Me From Nowhere inevitably contains some of the artist’s pain, emotion and maybe reflects a little of his soul. What beautiful, human thing doesn’t?
Movie in theaters October 24th. I rate this film (3.5/4) 🍿
Red Carpet premiere interviews:
