Another musical biopic has hit theaters with “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” documenting the process behind the making of artist Bruce Springsteen’s hit album, “Nebraska.” 

Springsteen is a famed rock artist and proud New Jersey native. Although he gained worldwide fame for his album “Born in the U.S.A.,” it wouldn’t have been possible without the raw and stripped-down album before it: “Nebraska.” 

Before watching the film, I decided to relisten to the entire “Nebraska” album. After all, the film focuses on the making of the album and how personal it was for Springsteen, even featuring some tracks that would later be on “Born in the U.S.A.” 

All of the songs in the album were heavily based on Springsteen’s own upbringing in his hometown of Colts Neck, New Jersey. Recorded in his bedroom, they were originally meant as demos that were supposed to be recorded with a full band, but ultimately he decided against it. 

“Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” documents his process in recording the album, the things that inspired him and the difficulties in his life that came during the recordings. 

The film picks up right when Springsteen (Jeremy Allen White) is in the midst of his fame. He’s not international, but he’s known enough to be recognized on the streets by name. 

Springsteen’s manager Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong) tells him about how he needs to get ready to prepare his next album following his hit single from his previous album, “Hungry Heart.” 

From that point on, we get glimpses into Springsteen’s life: his complicated relationship with his father, the amalgam of his girlfriends Faye and the deep depression he goes through which bleeds into the overall tone of “Nebraska.”

The two Jeremy’s (White and Strong) were the film’s saving grace, but even with them there, it still managed to fail in some aspects. It can take a while for films to kick off, but the biopic seems to remain stuck slow and boring for the full two hours. 

We mostly get scenes in which White is performing as Springsteen on stage and  recording the songs on the album “Nebraska,” guitar in hand. It is clear that White has put in the work to replicate his voice and mannerisms on stage, which is impressive. 

Subconsciously though, as I watched the film, I watched it knowing that I was watching White play Springsteen as an actor. This wouldn’t leave me until the scenes of him performing as Springsteen came on, and that was few and far in between. 

Even with the dark contacts to cover his blue eyes, a leather jacket and a singing voice that could rival Springsteen himself, it just didn’t feel believable enough. However, I think that has more of an issue to do with the film overall. 

A big piece of Springsteen’s success is missing: his backing band, The E Street Band, with famous guitarist Steven Van Zandt. 

The band has been with Springsteen since his first hit single, “Born to Run,” and they are sometimes credited together as “Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band.” Considering they are still performing alongside him today, their absence was felt during the film. 

Without the band, as we hear in “Nebraska,” Springsteen is someone else entirely. It’s heard in the rawness of his lyrics and the only instruments he uses in the album and the movie: the harmonica and his guitar. 

This is something canon to Springsteen’s style and lyrics. With many of his songs about working class life, and being from a working class background, it’s no wonder he has a heavy influence on what is called “heartland rock.”

The subgenre of heartland rock incorporates lyrics of the working man and working class life. Musically, it incorporates elements of blues, country and folk music. Springsteen can bring some of that to life, but not entirely on his own, and that credit belongs to The E Street Band. 

Additionally, if you watch the film and Google who “Faye Romano” is, you’d come to find out that she’s not an actual person who was in Springsteen’s life, but rather, a combination of the women he dated during that time. 

Faye’s purpose in the movie is to portray Springsteen’s struggle with his emotions and communication. At times, it comes off as the main focal point and takes away from the fact that this is about his life, not a love story. 

Most of the time spent on Springsteen’s relationship with Faye could have also been shifted more platonically. Perhaps he had similar frustrations with members of the E Street Band or his manager, showing that it wasn’t just her. 

“Nebraska” is a beautiful album, and choosing that album in particular to create an emotional biopic about an iconic musician is hard. Unfortunately, it didn’t entirely hit the mark. 

As a Springsteen fan, a film looking at his process behind “Born in the U.S.A.” could have been much more successful and entertaining to watch. 

“Deliver Me From Nowhere” seems to deliver us a whole lot of nothing. “Nebraska” is the soundtrack to Springsteen’s life, but seems to forget about the actual events, music and stardom that he experienced.