Bruce Springsteen’s biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere has received mixed reviews from critics who branded the film ‘clunky’ and ‘boring’.
The film is based on the book Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making Of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska (1982), which was written by Warren Zanes.
Filming primarily took place in locations throughout New York and New Jersey, but occasional scenes were shot in Los Angeles.
Jeremy Allen White takes on the lead role as The Boss for the flick, with Scott Cooper, Odessa Young, Stephen Graham, Jeremy Strong, and Jon Landau also starring.
Jeremy was a ‘top choice’ by bosses to play Bruce, and was confirmed as the film’s lead in April.
On Wednesday, the Born In The USA hitmaker joined the film’s stars and crew for its London premiere at the BFI on the South Bank in the capital.
Bruce Springsteen ‘s biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere has received a mixed review from critics who branded the film ‘clunky’ and ‘boring’
The film is based on the book Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making Of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska (1982), which was written by Warren Zanes
Filming primarily took place in locations throughout New York and New Jersey , but occasional scenes were shot in Los Angeles
Ahead of the movie’s cinematic release on October 24, the first round of reviews are in and critics are divided.
The Guardian‘s Adrian Horton gave the movie three stars, writing: ‘The story of Springsteen’s hard-left artistic turn, inspired by Flannery O’Connor stories and TV dramas, is certainly an interesting one.
‘Unfortunately, it’s difficult to visualize the churn of one person’s brain on fire, the ups and downs of the creative process; we end up spending a lot of time watching Bruce write lyrics in black marker indicative of overstatement – “Why???,” he writes when looking at an old headline about Charles Starkweather, whose 1958 murder spree inspired the title track. (It’s because he was “mad at the world”.)’
Adding that Deliver Me From Nowhere ‘thankfully avoids overly mythologizing the Boss’, she concludes: ‘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 Film Critic Tim Robey praises actor Jeremy’s portrayal of The Boss and how he captured the ‘introspection, the diffidence and the soul-searching of Springsteen’.
Giving the movie four stars, he also said: ‘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.
‘Indeed, 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 says that Jeremy ‘is no Bruce’ as their Chief Film Critic Kevin Maher declared: ‘As a lead protagonist Bruce is quite the bore.’
Ahead of the movie’s cinematic release on October 24, the first round of reviews are in and critics are divided
Jeremy Allen White takes on the lead role as The Boss for the flick, with Scott Cooper, Odessa Young, Stephen Graham, Jeremy Strong, and Jon Landau also starring
Awarding the movie just two stars, he added: ‘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.
‘In the end it’s only essential viewing for Springsteen completists. They can loudly chant “Broooooooooose!” all through the film. Probably better that way.’
US publication Variety says Deliver Me From Nowhere ‘doesn’t do nearly enough to contextualise’ the breakthrough Bruce had with Nebraska.
Their Chief Film Critic Peter Debruge adds: ‘It shows all the headaches Bruce’s tape caused for manager Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong) and recording engineer Chuck Plotkin (Marc Maron) and his cadre of studio pros, 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 warns in his review: ‘If some fans go in expecting the equivalent of a greatest hits package, think again.’
In one of its most positive reviews yet, he brands the biopic ‘the real deal’ as he praised lead star Jeremy.
Jeremy was a ‘top choice’ by bosses to play Bruce, and was confirmed as the film’s lead in April
Adolescence star Stephen Graham stepped out for the London premiere on Wednesday night ahead of the film’s release next week
He said: ‘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. He is utterly convincing on every count, but this is no mere NFL-style imitation.’
While The Sun‘s Dulcie Pearce branded the film a ‘waste of a fascinating subject’ and hit the ‘clunky’ biopic with a two-star review.
She said: ‘White does a reasonable impression of the tortured genius but with far too many distant, brooding stares.’
Adding it’s ‘one for the superfans’, she goes on to say: ‘There’s also flashbacks with Stephen Graham as Bruce’s alcoholic dad, which seems unnecessary.
