|
 (111325)
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is a marginally worthwhile albeit
unexceptional biopic about rock icon Bruce Springsteen, nicknamed "The Boss"
by his friends, co-workers and peers. In the
mid-70s, he emerged from obscurity with the albums "Born to Run"
(1975) and "Darkness
on the Edge of Town" (1978) At this time the work of the classic rock stars from
the 60s had started to decline and after a decade of another Beatles
or Elvis failing to materialize on the rock music scene, many critics saw him as the only one who could
save rock n roll. Producer Jon Landau famously said: "I saw the future of rock
n roll and its name is Bruce Springsteen." He had developed an almost messianic following
in the music community,
and Rolling Stone magazine even took a picture of him made up to look like Christ.
The film was
adapted from Warren Zane's biography "Deliver Us from Nowhere", which covers the
two years between his less commercial, less popular acoustic album "Nebraska"
(1982) and his explosive hit "Born in
the USA" (1984) which would push Springsteen to his commercial zenith. Where
"Nebraska" echo's the work of both early Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, "Born in the USA"
is a more polished, crowd-pleasing follow up album containing the bulk of what would eventually
become his best selling material. The film suggests that "Nebraska" was
his most significant, authentic, and artistic statement but then backs it up
largely with with songs from "Born in the USA" apparently
because they are catchier and more popular and recognizable by a mass audience. This was one of the things I didn't
like about
the film-it tries to have it both ways. The film works at cross purposes
with itself, jumping back and forth between moody, introspective black-and-white
flashback footage focusing on Springsteen's family life and more modern color
material that explores his career and romantic life.
The film stars Jeremy Allen as Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen.
Currently a rising star, Allen gained some
accolades for his fine work in two critically acclaimed but little-seen films:
Fremont (2021) and The Iron Claw (2023). But he is best known for his TV work,
including his Emmy-winning decade-long run as the brilliant delinquent Lip
Gallagher on Shameless (2011-2021) and his current role as a Chicago-based cook
on Hulu's The Bear (2022-present).
Pivotal to the films story is record producer
Jon Landau who is well played by Jeremy Strong (Succession). He is the great producer
who worked on both the MC5's "Back in the USA" and Springsteen's earlier 1975 "Born to Run"
album. This was the album that put Springsteen on the music industry's radar
after years of struggle in the early 70's.
Landau's character is an integral part of the film and is shown shepherding Bruce
through his depression. During this period, Springsteen was undergoing a massive
identity crisis because he was becoming increasingly disconnected from the
working-class people his music was supposedly speaking for.
His "Nebraska" album was inspired by the Southern Gothic writer Flannery O'Connor,
especially her short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find." At one point, Landau
consoles Bruce, who misses his hometown roots, by telling him the O Connor
quote: "Where you come from is gone and where you thought you were going was
never there and what you are is no good unless you get away from it."
As his popularity grew in the late 70's with "Darkness on the Edge of Town"
(1978) and the double album "The River" (1980) Springsteen decided to make his
next album, "Nebraska", in his room on a four-track player with minimal publicity
and no interviews.
It was essential to Springsteen at this time to make music on his own terms and not give in
to commercial pressure, so he decided to take control of his career and not lose
himself. I remember that after Kurt Cobain died, Springsteen said: "Even though
I never met him, I know what it is like to feel yourself slipping away." To his producer (who ended up supporting him) and the record
company personnel, this album seemed like sure career suicide. With "Nebraska" Springsteen was
swimming against the musical current at the time. Heavily produced synth pop bands like Human League, Tears for Fears, and Depeche Mode, which
often lacked guitars and were extremely popular and arguably over produced were fighting for space on the
musical
charts.
One of Springsteen's influences on the album was Terrence Malick's classic
film Badlands, and
we see clips from the film in sequences in which Bruce is trying to
compose the songs. Badlands was about real-life killers from a dead-end small
town, brilliantly played by Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek.
Springsteen is also seen listening to "Frankie Teardrop" by the obscure but
brilliant electronic duo Suicide. The classic cult song (also based on a true
story) is about an impoverished man who came home after getting fired from his
job, who shot his whole family to death. It was a significant influence on
Springsteen's song "Highway Patrolman," in particular.
The film also explores Springsteen's complex and troubled relationship's with
his family, specifically with his dad, played by Steven Graham. His father
treats his wife terribly and neglects her, often drinking until late in the
night in bars. At one point, Bruce's
mom gets so disgusted that she confides in her son during an emergency call, and
he flies in to find him, only to have a cathartic moment before he takes his dad
home.
The least developed part of the film deals with Springsteen's love life. He
meets a pretty waitress (Australian actress Odessa Young) with a child. She has
a fairly conventional life, but she hopes he will settle down with her and have
a serious relationship. But he is constantly touring and is obsessed with making
his album and dealing with his family problems, so he has little time or energy
for her. She accuses him of emotional cowardice and refusing to meet his fears.
He feels tremendous guilt because he can't give her what she truly needs. The
character is actually a combination of several women Springsteen dated.
The film pales in comparison to both the recent Bob Dylan biopic,
A Complete
Unknown, and the Elton John film, Rocket Man, both have much better
stories and cinematic presentation. But it is better than the popular but terrible Bob Marley biopic, One
Love, and it at least does not contain many out-and-out lies or mediocre songs,
like the overrated Bohemian Rhapsody.
Deliver Us from Nowhere is recommended for both confirmed fans of "The Boss" and
rock n roll enthusiasts in general. Some might not be thrilled with it, and the film
certainly won't convert people who aren't already his fans. While there is
little that is groundbreaking about it does have its moments and fine
performances are on display through out. All in all you might end up
feeling bad in the end.
|
