‘I highly recommend this film, regardless of whether you’re a Bruce fan or not’

As the daughter of an avid Bruce Springsteen fan, I have been listening to The Boss since before I was even born.

In 2024, my mum and I were lucky enough to see him perform live in Belfast. Because of this, I was going into the new biopic ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere’ with high expectations.

The film is based on the book by Warren Zanes and is set around the writing and recording of Springsteen’s seminal album ‘Nebraska’. Bruce and his manager Jon Landau were actively involved throughout the production.

The film is directed by Scott Cooper and stars Jeremy Allen White in the role of Bruce Springsteen.

During the filming and production, White formed a close bond with Springsteen, who helped him to play the part authentically, and in fact, Bruce gifted the actor one of his precious guitars.

Although some Springsteen recordings were used, White himself is the one singing during the performances in the movie.

The film deals with the struggles faced by Springsteen during this period of his life. It portrays his battle with depression and his fraught relationship with his father.

There was a certain amount of poetic licence used in this movie; for example, the love interest is not based in fact but was added to demonstrate the depth of Springsteen’s despair at that time.

The film doesn’t just show us the dark, melancholy music on this album, it also shows where that darkness in Springsteen’s life came from. The use of flashbacks to scenes from his childhood, filmed in black and white, further underline his mental state at the time the movie is set, adding atmosphere and depth.

The film contained a great balance of the raw, pared-back tracks from the ‘Nebraska’ album, coupled with upbeat live performances from the Stone Pony, where Jeremy Allen White gave a stunning depiction of Springsteen’s energetic, electric live shows.

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In his later life, Springsteen has talked openly about his struggles with depression and the shame he felt when he first had to seek help. He has also been happy to admit that without that professional help, he might not have made it through the darkness to become the iconic global rockstar he now is.

On a personal level, I believe it’s very important that our heroes can admit that they are human with flaws and struggles like everyone else. The way this is dealt with in ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’ makes it a relatable film and a very emotional watch.

All in all, I felt that this was a brilliant film and had me going from singing along to the classic Springsteen songs, to almost sobbing in the cinema at the deep sadness and intense emotions represented by the cast.

I highly recommend this film to anyone, regardless of whether they’re a Bruce Springsteen fan or not.