"Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" — A Boss Without a Beat

Adapting the life of a real person for the screen is no easy feat, especially when your subject is living legend, Bruce Springsteen. But this was the tall order given to director, Scott Cooper for the new biopic, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere starring Jeremy Allen White. Needless to say expectations were astronomically high for the cast and crew of this film, but in the end, is the new Bruce Springsteen biopic anything to write home about?

Bruce Springsteen is a figure that truly needs no introduction. The legendary New Jersey-bred musician is among one of the most decorated artists living today, and his work remains a cultural staple, over half a century since he last appeared on the scene. So when it was announced that a film was going to be made about his life, the question immediately rose: how can someone possibly do The Boss justice?

This October, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere was released in theaters to the delight of millions of fans. It follows Bruce during the making of his 1982 album, "Nebraska" and all of the personal and professional struggles that came along the way. Along with Jeremy Allen White, the film also stars Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, Odessa Young, and Marc Maron.

After a mere two weeks it has already grossed over half its budget and is set to not only be a box office success, but also be in the running for some awards. But to say reception has been mixed would be an understatement. For the past week or so, the film has been going back and forth on Rotten Tomatoes between a score of 60% and 59%, which just so happens to determine whether a film will be considered "fresh" or "rotten." This currently seems to be shifting day to day, critics can't really seem to make up their minds about the film. Unfortunately, as a longtime admirer of Springsteen, I can't help but fall on the "rotten" side of the equation.

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere was realistically a pretty easy script to sell. A film about one of the most beloved American icons in history, with an A-list actor at the forefront coming off an Emmy win. But what's strange about Deliver Me From Nowhere is that it none of it feels distinctly... Springsteen.

If this film did not have the name: "Springsteen" attached, it would've never seen the light of day. The film's plot is a meandering, shallow look at a wayward musician, grappling with newfound fame. Nothing about it feels specific to Bruce Springsteen. Jeremy Allen White's performance, is decent but inconsistent, which is a shame because he probably thought this role was how he'd win his Oscar. The truth is, he bares very little resemblance to the real person he's playing. His mannerisms and singing are very impressive at times but largely it feels like he's playing some random character inspired by Springsteen, not The Boss himself.

I appreciate that the filmmakers behind this project placed emphasis on Bruce Springsteen's inner machinations, his literary influences, and his state of mind. This is an interesting direction for a biopic to go in, unfortunately it just doesn't make for the most engaging watch experience.

Deliver Me From Nowhere is proficiently shot, lit, and directed, but the script has virtually no momentum. It was honestly kind of shocking how non-cinematic the whole thing felt, which can be a strength, but here it feels less than intentional. If I were to summarize my grievances with this film as succinctly as possible, I would use one word: boring. Every positive aspect about this film is overshadowed by the fact that it was genuinely difficult to finish. Not because of anything particularly egregious, the film itself is fine, but that's exactly the problem. It's just...fine.