It occurred to me after seeing the movie Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, and then reading the heavily negative reviews (Rotten Tomatoes was only 59% positive), either my wife and I saw a different film or they were had different expectations.
Of course, we watched the movie at the Spectrum Theater in Albany. I was very much taken by young Bruce’s relationship with his father, and his great affection for his mother. The Boss talked about that during his brief Broadway run Springsteen on Broadway.
Some of the reviewers were saying this film was not worthy of an artist such as Bruce Springsteen. But the fact that the singer was heavily involved in giving feedback to actor Jeremy Allen White who portrayed the Boss was significant. Clearly, it was real enough and meaningful enough to him that he wanted to share this narrative of his depression.
The movie is about the period after Bruce had released the River album in 1980, a big double album hit that included the #5 pop hit Hungry Heart, followed by months on the road. Naturally, the record company was looking forward to the next chart mover.
When he decides to veer into uncommercial territory, recording Nebraska onto a cassette, barren and unpolished, the people on his label didn’t know what to make of that. He didn’t even want his picture on the cover. For more info about the album, go here.
Reviews
One of the positive reviews: “It’s an admirable adaptation that sometimes goes out of its way to avoid the usual cliches and pitfalls of the typical big-screen rock flick. But it also wants to be one.” That’s a fair assessment.
Another: “Jeremy Allen White captures the essence of Springsteen. To its credit, it’s not the conventional biopic of his whole career, but the problem is that the section they picked is not compelling to a normal viewer. Springsteen fans will find it more intriguing.” I’ll admit to having quite a number of the albums by the Boss. But my wife, who is at best a casual Boss fan and has never heard Nebraska, was nevertheless captivated.
A negative review: “I have to think Bruce Springsteen was a little more exciting to be around during the creation of Nebraska. No way he was this dull.” Of course, I can’t answer that, but I have known depressed people, and it seems plausible.
The fans were more supportive, 83% positive. I was very affected by Deliver Me From Nowhere, maybe even a little teary-eyed.