Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is very much a ‘capture the mood of a specific moment in time’ biopic rather than an audience-friendly, ‘dance in the aisles’ type.

A music biopic will often live or die on its ability to capture the ‘feel’ of the artist it is representing. In that respect, this is a fantastic depiction of The Boss in this era but probably not one that’s going to get any non-believers on side.

Trying to get inside the head of the man as he records the dark and downbeat Nebraska, the film is slow, elegiac, often beautiful and stuffed with great music and some brilliant moments.

However, despite it going down that lesser taken path it still can’t help but swerve into a few biopic cliches which serve to stunt the transcendence it’s looking for.

Jeremy Allen White perfectly embodies the ‘feel’ of Bruce mentioned earlier. There’s so much charisma and magnetism in his downbeat performance, slow movement and soft delivery.

However, when it comes to the playing and singing he is nigh-on uncanny at points. It’s a screen-dominating performance that, like many before him, should get some award nominations.

Surrounding him are an excellent supporting cast who are often underused. Jeremy Strong probably leaving the most impression as manager Jon Landau.

Other figures are teased and not shown as the film sticks hard and fast to its ‘character portrait’ tone and strictly away from the ‘rock n’ roll showmanship’ formula.

For any fan of the man, the music, Nebraska in particular or just the music biopic as a genre, there’s so much to enjoy here. The magic of just seeing this dramatisation of the recording of a seminal album will be enough for some.

However, for those curious for another insight behind a gigantic musical figure, they may be put off by the slow and serene pace of the film and the pretty obvious and laboured showings of the ‘meanings’ and influences behind the songs.

It’s a great character study, a great performance and a film filled with great beauty and great music but certainly not one for everybody, ironic considering the ‘everyman’ at its centre.

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