With the weekend looming, the streaming gods have answered our prayers and dropped a fresh new (and awards-nominated) movie for us to watch from the comfort of our homes.
A biopic of a true musical superstar that garnered strong reviews upon its release in cinemas in October last year, the film was praised for its vulnerability and heart.
Now Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is available to stream on Disney Plus in the UK from today.
Starring The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White in the lead role – which saw him nominated for a Golden Globe – as well as Jeremy Strong as Bruce Springsteen’s manager Jon Landau, this film is not your average cradle-to-grave biopic.
Rather it focuses on the period between 1981 and ‘82, when Springsteen was working on his sixth studio album, Nebraska, following his big success with 1980’s The River, which gave the rocker his first top 10 hit – Hungry Hearts.
And this focus choice was with The Boss himself’s full support, after rejecting movie treatments about his life before this one, which is based on the book of the same name by Warren Zanes.
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, directed by Crazy Heart filmmaker Scott Cooper, has been praised as ‘extraordinary’ and ‘hauntingly beautiful’ by critics, with NME calling it ‘a tender, thoughtful film’, and praising White as ‘electrifying’.
The Telegraph’s review also praised White’s turn as ‘touching’ in its four-star reaction, adding: ‘Tears flow from both Jeremys, while Springsteen disciples – somewhat infamous for ready access to their emotions – are guaranteed to supply more of their own.’
While the movie earned a fresh rating of 61% on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, it soared even higher with fans to 82%, where it was dubbed ‘a fantastic film about an American poet and icon’.
Many singled out White’s central performance as Oscar-worthy – which sadly didn’t come to pass – while some others brought up its slower pace and called it a ‘snoozefest’.
But plenty defended it and insisted they weren’t sure why this movie got ‘lukewarm reviews’.
‘It’s the best movie that I have seen in years!’ insisted fan Donna B, while it was also judged to be ‘intimate, personal and very affecting’ and an ‘inspiring film all around’.
Have you seen Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere yet? What did you think?
-
I loved it - Jeremy Allen White was fantastic
-
It wasn't for me - I found it too slow
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is the film that inspired me to love the man that is such an idol to millions, having previously been more of a casual fan.
In my review for Metro, I wrote: ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere could have been just another copy-and-paste music biopic pumped out of Hollywood – but it has enough heart, truth, and commitment to distinguish itself as one of the better examples.’
I also praised it as ‘an earnest but surprisingly bruising and vulnerable biopic’, thanks to the film’s focus on exploring pressures in relation to fame, ambition, success – and self-discovery.
Or as the film puts it – a young musician wrestling with moments when ‘the quiet gets a little loud’.
Discussing the impact he hoped the film may have at its London premiere, White told Metro: ‘I hope people see this movie; if they feel the way Bruce has felt, or if they’re feeling alone, that they feel confident and comfortable seeing someone they may admire in Bruce Springsteen being very brave in these moments – especially at that period in time and especially in that environment he grew up in and lived in.
‘If he was able to do it, you know, you’re able to do it too. I hope people can see that.’
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is streaming now on Disney Plus.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
