The film begins with Springsteen returning to his hometown in New Jersey, after completing a successful tour for his album, The River (1980). He moves into an isolated house in the wilderness, where he creates a makeshift studio to record the album that ends up becoming Nebraska (1982).
Jeremy Allen White swaps out ‘yes chef’ for ‘yes boss’ as he takes on the impossible task of portraying Bruce Springsteen. The actor certainly wasn’t my first choice, but viewing the film makes total sense as to why the singer wanted White to portray him. This isn’t a film about Springsteen the rockstar, but Springsteen on the verge of a breakdown, which is something that White is more than capable of conveying.
The supporting cast provide strong back-up for the leading man. Jeremy Strong, in particular, plays Springsteen’s manager Jon Landau, who might be one of the few positive depictions of a music manager in cinematic history. Also, Odessa Young plays Springsteen’s love interest, Faye Romano, who gives us a breath of humanity in the midst of the rock star’s topsy-turvy life.
In the technical department, the film is beautifully shot by Masanobu Takayanagi, with several shots of the changing leaves and blustery forest surrounding Springsteen’s home making this an autumnal staple for years to come. Of course, the sound design is excellent and there are plenty of iconic Springsteen needle-drops to enjoy.
Springsteen’s depression is depicted as an internal, silent struggle.
The film provides an interesting commentary on male mental health, where Springsteen’s depression is depicted as an internal, silent struggle. He doesn’t resort to heightened drugs or alcohol binges; he is simply haunted by his childhood, particularly the strained relationship he had with his father.
As he becomes more and more obsessed with the album, he retreats further and further into himself. It’s uncommon for musician biopics to show so much restraint when showing the subject’s spiral, but it works for this one as it shows that even the biggest rock star in the world can struggle in the same way as an ordinary man. Bruce Springsteen is the working man’s hero, after all.
If you’re looking for an upbeat biopic that takes you through Springsteen’s illustrious career, then this is certainly not the film for you. Instead, this is a thoughtful character study on how personal demons can both help and hinder artistry.
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is in cinemas now. If you liked this film, you might also like Love & Mercy (2014).