Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere released on Oct. 24 and depicts the creative process of iconic musician Bruce Springsteen. The film documents the creation of Springsteen’s 1982 album, Nebraska.
Following the success of biopics over the past few years, including A Complete Unknown and Back to Black, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is the latest music-driven film to introduce a new generation to a music legend and re-ignite old fans.
According to Rolling Stone, Nebraska is a musical retelling of Springsteen’s quest for purpose. The album was unlike anything Springsteen had made before, featuring an intimate, acoustic sound. It was also the perfect predecessor to the 1984 album Born in the U.S.A., which continued to define Springsteen as a major artist of the 20th century.
Springsteen, portrayed in the movie by award-winning actor Jeremy Allen White, is a renowned musician with an extensive catalog of American classic hits. The singer and guitarist got his start playing with local bands in the New Jersey club scene. He began his career heavily influenced by artists like the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. As Springsteen progressed, his sound evolved into a heartfelt rock sound with lyrics relating to the working class.
Allen White is most known for his roles in Shameless and The Bear, where he delivers impactful performances for emotionally tormented characters. This experience makes Allen White the perfect pick to reenact one of the most vulnerable times in Springsteen’s career.
In recent years, we have seen an astronomical amount of commitment from the actors depicting these beloved celebrities in their biopics. Allen White immersed himself in Springsteen culture by visiting well-known places, such as The Stone Pony, which is the club that helped launch Springsteen into stardom.
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere was directed by Scott Cooper, an American director best known for his films Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace, and Hostiles. Cooper’s work has a common theme of human struggle, meticulous visual elements, and the ability to elicit raw, natural performances from actors.
Cooper’s directorial style — moody, realistic, and human-centered — is a perfect companion for Springsteen’s story and his music. Specifically, the voice and energy that was captured in Nebraska.
Final Thoughts
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, shaped by Cooper’s directorial prowess, Allen White’s strategic performance, and the retelling of Springsteen’s raw emotion, is much more than a celebration of the music. The film invites audiences to look beyond the album covers and see the human side of an artist-turned-icon, with the turmoil, genuine emotions, and experiences that created the music on full display.
When a new biopic hits theaters, it invites longtime fans and new listeners to dive into the world of a globally praised artist. In this case, audiences can see Springsteen’s battles with purpose and the music that emerged from this internal struggle.