‘Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere’ Review

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere captures the iconic rock star teetering on the edge of a personal abyss as he struggles to reconcile meteoric fame with his troubled childhood. The line between Jeremy Allen White and “The Boss” vanishes in a somber and intricate evocation of repressed feelings coming to light. Springsteen had already achieved enormous success by the time period depicted in this film: Everyone wanted the next hit record, but he chose a different path that would lead to the acoustic solo album Nebraska, the songwriting masterpiece that prefaced the powerhouse ballads of Born in the USA.

The film opens in 1981 with Bruce (White) and the E Street Band finishing their tour of The River album to massive commercial and critical acclaim. Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong), his devoted manager and producer, meets Bruce as he drips with sweat in his dressing room. Jon has rented him a house in bucolic Colts Neck, New Jersey, for some rest, but then it’s back in the studio: The record company wants to strike while the iron is hot. A weary Bruce agrees, and is driven to the lakeside retreat for a long-overdue respite.

A Rock Icon’s Inflection Point

Peace and quiet lead Bruce to a dark place. The film flashes back to 1957, where young Bruce (Matthew Anthony Pellicano) was often taken by his mother Adele (Gaby Hoffmann) to local bars searching for his drunken father. Douglas (Stephen Graham) was an abusive alcoholic who would force Bruce to box in an effort to toughen him up, and Bruce lived in fear of late-night steps thundering towards his room for an inevitable lesson.

Back in 1981, Mike Batlan (Paul Walter Hauser), his sound engineer, brings Bruce a TEAC 4-track cassette recorder. With only his guitar, a mic and harmonica, Bruce begins to write and reflect on his complex relationship with his father. The soulful and moody songs aren’t what the record company expects, but Jon swears to fight for Bruce’s vision as his dear friend begins to unravel.

Jeremy Strong as Jon Landau

Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Black Mass, Hostiles) directs and adapts the screenplay from Warren Zane’s best-selling biography, Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska. Cooper shoots Springsteen’s youth in stark black and white, contrasted with the grainy and textured hues of his life at 32. His early memories are bitter and painful, with constant fear and uncertainty. He loved his father, but was afraid and angry. The adult Springsteen channeled those tumultuous feelings into his music. Cooper and White brilliantly recreate Springsteen’s infectious energy and magnetic stage presence. His outlet for expressive freedom couldn’t be contained within his lean, muscular frame. This sweaty and veined persona directly contrasted his reserved and contemplative nature in private. Cooper shows Springsteen as creatively forthright in getting “Nebraska” released, but completely uneasy with fame, fortune and constant recognition.

White delivers his best performance to date with stunning nuance, singing in his own voice while deftly mimicking the legendary rocker in soaring concert scenes. But his haunted look in touching human interactions is where White truly shines. He portrays Springsteen as guarded and sensitive, never wanting to hurt or disappoint the people he cares about. Springsteen had a tremendous capacity to love, but used inner turmoil as a shield to prevent others from knowing the true severity of his depression. The camera lingers on White as what’s unsaid is clearly evident in his restrained but tortured countenance.

A pair of key relationships defines his inability to confront this problem. Odessa Young co-stars as Faye, a waitress and single mother who meets Bruce at the now-legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey. They have a beautiful romance that provides them both with comfort and solace, but Faye wants more. She’s desperate to crack his veneer and see what’s causing such distress. Jon has the same concern. Several of the film’s best scenes see Jon discussing the rawness of Nebraska with his wife Barbara (Grace Gummer) in their apartment. Where is this music coming from? There’s something going on that he doesn’t understand, but will walk on fire to protect a visionary artist as he goes through a transformative process.

Odessa Young as Faye

Springsteen fans will be in heaven watching the songwriting and recording stages of his defining works. White draws you in with each note sung and engaging conversation, making you understand why everyone around Springsteen was so supportive of his artistic goals. He inspired genuine fellowship and loyalty without demanding anything in return. Cooper also does a banner job of transporting the audience to the working-class towns, concert halls and oceanfront piers that shaped Springsteen as a person and an artist. The film is all-encompassing in its scope, depicting a snapshot of time and place for a man whose songs have become American anthems.

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is an absorbing character study told with a measured and thoughtful approach. You don’t have to like Springsteen’s music to follow his journey of introspection, growth and eventual closure. The film admittedly moves slowly, with long and solemn sequences of pensive artistry. We see Springsteen in his bedroom, plucking strings, writing and driving to clear his clouded mind. There’s nothing rushed here, and the narrative embraces its glacial pace. White and Strong are superb. They, along with Cooper, will deservedly be in awards contention.

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is a production of Gotham Group, Night Exterior and Bluegrass 7. It will be released theatrically on October 24th from 20th Century Studios.