Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

 

         Directed and screenplay by Scott Cooper, this new film explores a particular period in the life of Bruce Springsteen and is based on the terrific book, "Deliver Me From Nowhere" (The making of Nebraska) by Warren Zanes. It takes place between the end of "The River" tour in 1981 and before the release of "Born In The USA".

           It is a intimate look into the personal and professional struggles of an artist approaching stardom who retreats to an isolated rental home to work out his demons through his music with the result being the stark, solo, acoustic, album known as "Nebraska". 

            The film stars Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen. Co-starring as his manager, Jon Landau, is Jeremy Strong. The film also features Stephen Graham as Bruce's father Douglas, Gaby Hoffman as his mother, Adele, Paul Walter Hauser as Mike Batlan, Odessa Young as Fay (a fictional girlfriend), Marc Maron as Chuck Plotkin, David Krumholtz as Al Teller, Harrison Sloan Gilbertson as Matt Delia, and as a young Bruce, Matthew Anthony Pellicano Jr.

            Mr. White capture the spirit and essence of Bruce Springsteen without becoming an imitation. He does his own singing and guitar playing. and makes the "character" Bruce Springsteen his own. His scenes of self doubt and depression are heartbreaking.

             The film contains many flashbacks to Bruce's youth and his difficult relationship with his father, which he starts to understand and work out through the songs of "Nebraska".  He finally comes to grips with his crippling depression with professional help. This is a raw glimpse into the life of a rock icon, that reveals his inner struggles (which he has discussed publicly) while at the same time shows us his creative process. And that process led to the album "Nebraska", that at first, no one knew what to make of, but is now regarded as a masterpiece.

              One doesn't have to be a Springsteen fan to appreciate the emotional relationships, terrific acting, and the creative backstory of the film, but of course, fans will thoroughly enjoy it.