Tag Archives: Music biopic

Cerebral “Springsteen” Film a Fascinating Anti-Crowdpleaser

Hollywood of late is so dead-set against presenting a typical “Behind the Music” style biopic treatment of its legends that it often feels like tough medicine is being administered instead of rousing entertainment, and this modern elixir of choice leveraged to tackle the subject of Bruce Springsteen is fittingly far from formulaic. Writer/director Scott Cooper’s Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (B) is a provocative glimpse at a time period of deep introspection for the Americana pop music purveyor; and while this epoch for reflection and stripped-down creation makes for a stimulating intellectual exercise, it doesn’t always pop off the screen with accompanying bombast. Jeremy Allen White is a sly, snug choice for the title role, as his brooding character endeavors to exorcise the demons of an abusive childhood and finds himself a bit paralyzed by the notion of superstardom while transitioning from bar shows to arena tours. The plot centers around Bruce’s relentless self-recording of demos for the album Nebraska, comprised of personal fever dream confessions, folksy remembrances and intimate rock fable tone poems a far cry from the pop crossover juggernauts of his most popular “Born in the USA” era. Cooper’s film is fully committed to the artist’s evocation of his most raw and direct personal statements and tracing his singular obsession with placing the artifacts of his youth in their proper place. The movie deals with mental health struggles, which White handles deftly. And there are mere moments of fan service with only a few tunes covered in their entirety. The talented Odessa Young is wonderfully endearing as love interest Faye, although her lively contributions are somewhat dismissed, a more rotation around an Atlantic City boardwalk carousel, amidst the songwriter’s overall cycle of moodiness. Jeremy Strong and Paul Walter Hauser are effective in small parts as the manager/producer and recording engineer, respectively, who help the Boss be his best. The film is best in its moments of heightened emotion. It needed more music, though, as White channels the gravel-throated crooner with stirring authenticity. The film is overall a unique glimpse into the man and musician and gives a rather full picture of his emotional landscape even as it may leave many fans wanting more.