Springsteen’s biopic is more than a rock and roll story
In the new biopic, “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere,” Jeremy Allen White, award-winning actor known for his performance on “The Bear,” plays iconic musician Bruce Springsteen. Bruce Springsteen is notable for his many hits such as “Born In the U.S.A” and “Dancing In the Dark.” White impressively sang all of the songs himself, proving himself a multi-talented and courageous actor, even under the pressure of embodying such an influential artist. In fact, Bruce Springsteen was on set watching White shoot the film.
Instead of the usual storyline of the crazy, chaotic life of a rock star, the movie focuses on mental health and relationships, specifically between men, which I believe is a more meaningful theme. But, several critics contend that the storyline moves slowly. Contrary to these comments, I think that the slow-moving storyline contributes to the deep themes of the movie.
In the biopic, Bruce Springsteen is depicted as a humble man, not interested in fame. The movie challenges the unspoken rules of men not being allowed to have emotional relationships with each other by introducing the heartwarming relationships Bruce Springsteen has with his manager, Jon Landau, and his friend, Mike Batlan. The respect and support Bruce Springsteen and Landau shared was touching. Something that stood out to me was how often Bruce Springsteen often gave the people he cared about, Landau and Batlan, strong and meaningful embraces.
When it came to Bruce Springsteen’s relationship with his father, Douglass Springsteen, mental health was one of the main themes addressed. Throughout the biopic, Bruce Springsteen battled emotions triggered by memories of his father. The flashbacks showed the complicated and abusive relationship the young Bruce Springsteen had with his father. It is later implied that Douglass Springsteen was struggling with mental illness, although the diagnosis was not revealed. The fact that the illness is left unnamed makes the story more relatable. In my opinion, the most heartbreaking scene was at the end, when Douglass Springsteen tells him to sit on his lap when Bruce Springsteen is a grown man. Bruce Springsteen says, “I’ve never sat on your lap before.” These flashbacks show the influences for Bruce Springsteen’s album “Nebraska.”
Apart from White’s brilliant performance as Bruce Springsteen, the performances of several of the cast members were also noteworthy. Jeremy Strong, playing Bruce Springsteen’s manager, stood out to me. Jeremy Strong’s character in the well-known show “Succession” was an evil, tyrannical figure. In “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” we see Strong portray Bruce Springsteen’s manager, Jon Landau, as a sweet, kindhearted man with no other intention than to support Bruce Springsteen. His range as an actor is impressive.
There were several directorial choices that contributed to the effectiveness of the film. Specifically, the artful use of light and color portrayed beautifully sad and joyous moments. Every flashback scene, typically involving bad memories, was filmed in black and white, casting a gloomy overlay. In contrast, in the scenes with his love interest, Faye, played by Odessa Young, the director used vibrant colors in her wardrobe and makeup, which brightened those scenes. As their relationship grew apart, and Faye began to hear less from Bruce Springsteen, her colorful aura began to dim as she began to wear pale pink sweaters and little to no makeup. These creative details set the tone and enhanced emotion.
Overall, the film was a thought-provoking piece of cinema rife with excellent performances. But viewers shouldn’t expect the rock and roll roller coaster that is typical of other musicians’ biopics. For Bruce Springsteen fans, the biopic fully meets expectations.
