Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere hit theaters on Oct. 24. It focused on the writing and recording process behind the legend, Bruce Springsteen’s, career-defining album: Nebraska, which released on Sep. 30, 1982. After extensive production, Springsteen wanted to put out this album with no press, no tour, and no publicity. At the time, this was a completely unusual approach. The film highlighted the challenges “the boss” had to overcome in order to successfully fulfill his creative process, even though the music industry was often against him.
It was a risky move to put out a movie on an iconic musician who was still alive, but the film was set up to be a major hit. Directed by Scott Cooper and starring award-winning actor, Jeremy Allen White, who is widely known for his outstanding role in The Bear, the film’s crew was filled with passion and talent. Springsteen himself even complimented White for his brilliant performance through acting and song. However, the film was not so well received by the general public.
Critics argue that this is just another boring biopic that focuses on troubled musicians, comparing the film to James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothee Chalamet. Many claim on social media that the film is only enjoyable if you went into the theater as a fan of Bruce Springsteen. I completely disagree. Prior to the movie, I of course knew who Springsteen was, but I would not have claimed to be a fan of his. After experiencing his creative process and his artistic drive through the screen, I am able to appreciate Springsteen’s music a lot more than before, and I have even found myself going to his album Nebraska when opening Spotify. I have not only discovered the featured album, but I am now exploring his entire discography, as I can report that “I’m on Fire” has worked its way into my current favorite songs. Through social media, I know that I am not the only one developing a new appreciation for Springsteen, so although the film may not be everyone’s favorite, it has certainly made an impact.
