By Rose Dowsing, Third Year, Theatre and Performance
Bearing a strikingly similar title to its predecessor starring Timothee Chalamet, ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere”, directed by Scott Cooper, is the latest star-studded biopic to hit the big screen.
The film stars The Bears (2022-) Jeremy Allen White, clad in very tight denim and doing his best impression of rock legend Bruce Springsteen, AKA ‘The Boss’. I was lucky enough to see the preview at The Little Cinema Theatre in Bath as part of their annual film festival. A small, intimate and genuinely lovely little place. Hidden deep within the rows of bath stone houses and choc-full with locals and fans alike. Knowing near to nothing of Bruce, I dived in with zero expectations, except the hope that maybe I’d come out a fan.
The story takes place in 1981 and focuses on the making of the career turning and folk-infused album Nebraska (1982), recorded on a four-track recorder in Bruce’s bedroom. It draws our attention to the largely autobiographical nature of Nebraska. At one point we quite literally watch Bruce cross out the lyrics of his song and jot down ‘I’ at the beginning of each verse.
Additionally, the film parallels Bruce’s creative process in the moody New Jersey countryside with black and white flashback scenes to an abusive alcoholic father, played by the formidable Stephen Graham.Whilst the money-hungry music industry try to steer Bruce in the direction of commercial success, Bruce and his benevolent manager, played by Jeremy Strong stick to their guns, creating an album with no singles, no tours and no press. The message? Be the captain of your own ship, unique and unforgiving. A little bit ironic for a biopic, don’t you think?
White’s performance is fine, he’s the closest fit to Bruce there is and he sounds a bit like him too. However, in certain shots it’s hard not to be reminiscent of the dirty back kitchens of The Bear. His voice is OK too, though obviously lacking the effervescent stage presence of ‘The Boss’. The scenes with Graham feel contrived and a little bit clichéd, with Graham turning in a performance we’ve seen a million times before. Jeremy Strong is subtle yet compelling as Bruce’s manager Jon Landau, and there are some really tender moments between the two of them.
Additionally, there is a somewhat love story between White’s character and a single mum played by Odessa Young. A commentary on Bruce’s attachment issues stemming from his relationship with his father, I think? Young gives a convincing performance. However, the writing gives her little to work with, other than being a rockstars girlfriend and the subplot comes across as a bit redundant. Epigram's Eleanor Bate further discusses this ‘undercooked’ quality of the film, which you can find below.
Eleanor Bate
Through its slow pacing, cool blues and browns and the content of the story itself, the film choses to take an understated and indie-ish twist on the classic biopic. However, by making this choice, it creates a narratively limited yawnfest. It’s a completely inaccessible experience for someone who knows very little of Bruce’s and may not care, and it doesn’t succeed in making you care. This particular story is sure to capture the attention of super-fans hoping to understand the history of a beloved and mythologised album.
However, White’s lack lustre stage performances, a clunky script, and poor pacing has little in the way of inspiring new followers of ‘The Boss’. In my opinion, if you want to get a good sense of who Bruce was and what he was to people watch it’s counterpart, Gurinder Chadha’s Blinded by the Light (2019). A fun and silly story with real heart, demonstrating the effect that Bruce’s music had on everyday people.
Featured Image: IMDb
Were you convinced by Jeremy Allen White's portrayal of legendary Springsteen?
