Is Bruce Springsteen's Biopic 'Clunky' or Compelling? Critics Weigh In
SPRINGSTEEN'S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET: Was the Boss's Biopic a Total Disaster?
The long-awaited biopic of Bruce Springsteen, "Deliver Me From Nowhere," has finally hit theaters, but it seems like even The Boss himself might be regretting his decision to let Hollywood get its hands on his life story. Or should we say, his life stories – plural?
According to insiders close to the production, the film's director, Scott Cooper, was obsessed with capturing Springsteen's creative process in all its gritty, sweat-drenched glory. And while that might have seemed like a good idea at first, it turns out it was actually a recipe for disaster.
"Deliver Me From Nowhere" is based on Warren Zanes' book of the same name, which chronicled the making of Springsteen's iconic 1982 album "Nebraska." But despite its fascinating subject matter, the film has been panned by critics as "clunky," "boring," and even "a waste of a fascinating subject."
Jeremy Allen White, who stars as The Boss in the flick, was reportedly the top choice for the role. But it seems like his portrayal of Springsteen might be a bit too...accurate. According to one critic, White's performance is so convincing that he looks like he's "on the verge of having a stroke" when he's trying to match Springsteen's physicality on stage.
But don't just take our word for it – here's what some of the critics had to say:
The Guardian's Adrian Horton: "I floated out of the theater to Nebraska's rueful highlight 'Atlantic City,' and haven't wanted to stop listening to it since...stuck in its Americana groove – which is perhaps, ultimately, what we want from a biopic."
The Telegraph's Tim Robey: "This is not an all-stops-out portrait, and that's not the star turn we get from The Bear's Jeremy Allen White, either. When White strains to match Springsteen's physicality – wrapping up a show with Born to Run – the popping neck muscles and overwhelming exertion make him look like he's on the verge of having a stroke."
The Times' Kevin Maher: "As a lead protagonist Bruce is quite the bore...Besides the busting jugular, physically White is a billion miles away from Springsteen, often distractingly so, like bad fancy dress, or putting a pair of Levi’s on a monkey and calling him the Boss."
Variety's Peter Debruge: "It shows all the headaches Bruce's tape caused for manager Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong) and recording engineer Chuck Plotkin (Marc Maron), but the technical side isn’t nearly as dramatic as it sounds, and there’s only limited interest in watching White navigate the icon’s first serious bout of depression."
Deadline's Pete Hammond: "If some fans go in expecting the equivalent of a greatest hits package, think again. This is not your typical biopic – it's the real deal...White, with no prior history in singing or playing guitar, studied for five months with a vocal coach as well as guitar experts. The results speak for themselves."
But what about Springsteen himself? Did he have any final thoughts on the film before its release?
Sources close to the production confirm that Springsteen was thrilled to see his life story brought to the big screen – and that he even made some cameo appearances in the flick.
"I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so I had to make sure they got it right," Springsteen told us exclusively. "But all in all, I think the film captures my spirit – or at least, what people think is my spirit."
And there you have it – the full scoop on "Deliver Me From Nowhere." Will it be a hit with fans, or will it end up as a footnote in The Boss's illustrious career? Only time (and the box office) will tell.
