REVIEW: SPRINGSTEEN - DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE

3.5/5

Deliverance

119 Mins. Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, Odessa Young, Marc Maron, Gaby Hoffmann & Stephen Graham. Screenplay: Scott Cooper. Director: Scott Cooper. In: Theatres.

The Boss and his life and times are so deep and vast, you'd need a series of movies (hint, hint), or a TV syndicate to show all that he's done. From being a runaway American dream, to writing songs for those who lost their lives to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. And it's that powerful and profound penmanship for others that steers and drives 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere', based on the book by Warren Zanes ('Deliver Me From Nowhere') and Bruce Springsteen's own 'Born To Run' memoir. There have been many movies already made by The Boss himself (see, 'Western Stars'). And the man, who wrote Oscar winning title tracks for 'The Wrestler' and 'Streets Of Philadelphia', even took his 'Springsteen On Broadway' one-man show to Netflix. Bruce even co-signed the beautiful 'Blinded By The Light' (much in the same guitar string vein as 'Yesterday' for The Beatles) movie about an Indian teenager from the UK who has inspired so much by Springsteen, he went on a pilgrimage to America just to see him play.

Delivering us from nowhere though, this strong Scott Cooper ('Out Of The Furnace', 'Black Mass', 'Hostiles') written and directed piece, knows music and the man behind it. What more could you expect from the man who gave us Jeff Bridges and his 'Crazy Heart'? I bet you didn't expect to get a Springsteen and Bob Dylan biopic in the same calendar cycle, though. Not to mention ones starring men of the moment, Timothée Chalamet and Jeremy Allen White. What a time to be alive in this music and movie, epic entertainment industry. And just like James Mangold's 'A Complete Unknown' focuses on particular points in Dylan's life (notably, going electric), 'Deliver Me From Nowhere' (based on a line from a track ('Open All Night'), like that 'Rolling Stone' one), takes a look at the recording of one of Bruce's deepest and darkest records. The personal passion project and painstaking labour of love of 'Nebraska'. The black, white and red album, with no singles, press, promotion, or even a picture of Bruce on the record jacket, that featured the likes of 'Atlantic City', 'Mansion On The Hill' and 'Johnny 99'. 

Springsteen himself released the reissue 'Nebraska '82' (featuring some electric cuts) to accompany the movie's opening night. And purists will love this compelling feature that critics are yawning at, but Oscar shouldn't ignore. But for the crowd pleasers, there's an opening performance of 'Born To Run', with Allen White sweating like Springsteen, and a closing classic studio session, that feels like a spoiler if we speak on it, to bookend this story. Nuanced and cutting, 'Nebraska' was made in a faraway house in Colts Neck (where hits like 'Born In The U.S.A.' and 'I'm On Fire' were also conceived) by Springsteen and one recording engineer (played perfectly by 'Richard Jewell's' Paul Walter Hauser ('I, Tonya', 'Fantastic Four: First Steps')). Recording demos on a four-track, that led to a Holy Grail like cassette that didn't even have a case. But this film is all for the Jeremy's, like Pearl Jam. Emmy winning star of 'The Bear', Jeremy Allen White, is perfect as Bruce Springsteen, all the way down to the weary voice. Even if the contacts that cover his baby blues takes some of his soul. I mean, this is a man who is about to play Jabba the Hutt's son in 'The Mandalorian & Grogu'. Now, that's range.

Yet, it's 'Succession' star Jeremy Strong, who steals the show, especially in the third act, as Jon Landau, Springsteen's day one, long time, manager and record producer. Bespectacled and with thinning hair (look who's writing), but always willing to fight for Bruce, in full. Jeremy, doing for Jeremy what he did for Sebastian Stan's Donald Trump in last year's 'The Apprentice', following The Boss beefing with the President of the United States, this summer. Played perfectly by Strong and Allen White, this pair know each other like a crack in the door. Elsewhere, there's a Hollywood scripted romance in the boardwalk air, aboard a carousel, like 'We Live In Time', that feels real thanks to the outstanding Odessa Young ('Looking For Grace', 'The Daughter'). And even Marc Maron ('Glow', 'To Leslie') shows up as Chuck Plotkin as the studio plot thickens. But it's the performance from Bruce's parents that will really leave you proud. The great Gaby Hoffmann (from 'Uncle Buck' and 'Sleepless In Seattle' to 'C'mon C'mon' and 'Winning Time') and the amazing 'Adolescence' winner of our very own Stephen Graham, who adds this track to a formidable filmography of Hollywood heavy-lifting. Delivering us from evil, and his own demons of depression, when it comes to those tougher than the rest, where can you find someone stronger than Springsteen? Nowhere. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Springsteen On Broadway', 'Blinded By The Light', 'A Complete Unknown'.