Time: 119 Minutes
Age Rating: M – Mental health themes, coarse language and a sex scene
Cast:
Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen
Jeremy Strong as Jon Landau
Paul Walter Hauser as Mike Batlan
Stephen Graham as Douglas Springsteen
Odessa Young as Faye Romano
Director: Scott Cooper

I was expecting the upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic to be another typical music biopic; it would have great performances, but overall would just be an okay movie. On the whole though, it was pretty solid.

I knew some of Bruce Springsteen’s songs, but I didn’t know much about him as a person, so I was interested in learning more. Unlike most music biopics which attempt to cover all or at least a very large portion of that artist’s life, Deliver Me From Nowhere specifically covers the period in which Springsteen was creating one of his earlier albums, Nebraska. It’s also not a typical biopic in the sense that compared to other music biopics, it’s far less heavy on having sequences of its subject performing recognisable songs. Instead it’s far more personal and intimate character study about an artist who is struggling with depression. While I can’t speak on the accuracy of the events to real life, the creation of Nebraska was interesting to watch with relation to Bruce’s artistic vision, and also it’s a sensitive look into the mental health of an artist. Still, it’s a relatively safe biopic with all its trappings, including an underwritten love interest. The pacing is also a little on the slow side, mainly in its first third, but it becomes more interesting as it enters into its second act.

Jeremy Allen White is really great as Bruce Springsteen, delivering a vulnerable and nuanced performance with a lot of internal conflict. Jeremy Strong is also good as Springsteen’s manager, producer and friend, his performance is subdued and genuine, and his friendship with JAW is convincing. Stephan Graham and Odessa Young are also good in their parts.

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is a solid, introspective and intimate biopic with amazing performances, especially from Jeremy Allen White.