Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Grade: B+

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, like the Warren Zanes novel before it, chronicles Bruce Springsteen’s journey from The River to Born in the USA. In between the 20-track double album that was the former, and before becoming the biggest rock star on the planet upon the release of the latter, he released Nebraska in 1982. It was an album of 10 songs, all singlehandedly recorded by Bruce on a 4-track tape recorder that cost $1000.

It wasn’t originally intended to be that way. After coming off the River tour in 1981, Springsteen rented a house in Colt’s Neck, New Jersey to write and record some demos for a planned follow-up album with the band. As talented as they were and are, Bruce was dissatisfied with their takes on the Nebraska songs. He felt like the magic of the demos was lost with all those extra instruments. Realizing that less was more in this case, he made the unprecedented decision to release the demos. The album would have no press, no accompanying tour, or even his face on the cover. Just put Nebraska out with no fanfare, and let it speak for itself, he said.

I first heard the album on Tuesday, February 29, 2000. Except for “Atlantic City,” which is popular in the Springsteen canon, the rest of it was new to me. “Johnny 99” was my first favorite song, probably still is, and it’s the one that introduced me to cross-harp harmonica playing. I was driving on the highway when “State Trooper” was on, and I had the volume turned way up because it’s mostly a quiet song, except for a couple of surprises. Completely unexpectedly, he lets out a loud bark/howl, twice. That would not have had the same impact if it was a full-band rocking song already.

The movie brings a couple of these songs’ stories to life, like in an effective “Mansion on the Hill,” which plays all the way through, as a backdrop to young Bruce and his sister running through the fields near the mansion. It’s one of many black-and-white flashbacks to his childhood. The actors who play his parents help paint a detailed picture of his upbringing. As Doug Springsteen, Stephen Graham (Young Woman and the Sea, The Irishman, Rocketman) is appropriately foreboding as he stumbles around menacingly, rarely without a cigarette or a beer – and when there is love, it’s the tough kind. He looks like an older Bruce. It’s especially poignant to see his mother portrayed here, as Adele Springsteen – his biggest fan – passed away at age 98 earlier this year. Gaby Hoffmann, now 43 years old, had several plum credits as a child actor, including playing Kevin Costner’s daughter in Field of Dreams. She does the original boss of the boss proud.

Jeremy Allen White, as Bruce, looks and sounds like him most of the time – but even when he doesn’t, he consistently creates a compelling character that we want to follow through a movie. As Bruce’s manager Jon Landau, Jeremy Strong – a master of deadpanness – makes an impression every time he’s onscreen. A love interest is planted in the film, for dramatic/cinematic purposes. She likely didn’t really exist as we see her, but Odessa Young does fine work as Faye, who becomes Springsteen’s girlfriend during this time. Her being a single mother reminded me of two songs from The River that deal with young mothers: “I Wanna Marry You” and the title track.

Get ready for a dark ride as it turns heavy and slow-moving in the final act, which pivots away from the music into an exploration of Bruce’s depression, and the issues with his father. Most of Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere deserves a solid B, but I am boosting the grade because the musical elements and the sound of the songs cut through the mix, so to speak. I am one of the most biased people you could ask, but I really think you should see it. Welcome to Nebraska. Turn it up loud. Experience those howls.

Grade: B+