‘We’re people too, you know.”

“THEY’RE people too, you know.”

            There is some stuff at the end you may want to read, but we chose to get right to it.

            Deliver Me from Nowhere is a very good movie. It is the story of Bruce Springsteen from 1982 to 1983, struggling with what would become two separate musical projects and his own inner demons.

Jeremy Allen White should receive a nomination for best actor, and Jeremy Strong should receive strong consideration as well as best supporting actor. Throw Scott Cooper in there for writing the screenplay and directing.

            (Cary) Years ago, I read in Rolling Stone that an older rock star, I feel like it was Pete Townsend of The Who, saw Bruce live, and said something like “it was a very good show, and there is a guy who doesn’t know what to do when he’s off the stage.” That is close enough; you get the gist.

            If you are new to KCMR, you may not know that Cary writes more than Kim. She does contribute, and for that, with me —the semi-crazy fan —her opinion means more. Here is Kim:

            I really enjoyed the movie, and to the point I would like to see it again.

            Jeremy Allen White was awesome as Bruce Springsteen!!. He had Bruce’s Walk, the tilt of his head, and an almost identical voice on a few of the songs he did.

            I enjoyed the true stories and did not realize what Bruce Springsteen went through with his dad, emotionally and physically. The movie brought tears to my eyes!

             Bruce had a complicated and difficult relationship with his father. If you know his music, several of his songs, particularly from the late seventies, are about his dad. Their story has never been a secret, but now it is on screen. Stephen Graham plays Douglas Springsteen incredibly well.   

            Famous musicians are people too (more at the end). This kid from New Jersey paid his dues over the years, playing countless shows from high school onward, writing hundreds (thousands) of songs, and achieving stardom. As Bruce freely admits, “I knew what to do with the three hours on stage. I did not know what to do with the other twenty-one.” That is one of the movie’s underlying themes.

            Again, I (Cary) did not want to open a review (and get you to scroll away) by saying this, but now I will. People, all people, sometimes need professional help with emotional problems. That was once a stigma; it is not anymore, and it never should have been one. If you need help, get it! Sometimes situations go beyond the assistance of family and friends. Sadly, we all know people who are no longer with us because they did not get the help they needed. Bruce did, and if you or someone you know needs it, get them to it.

            In September of 1981, Bruce and the E Street Band ended their The River tour. He had his first top ten single with “Hungry Heart,” and they were selling out arenas across the country and breaking ground in Europe. Bruce and the boys had some money for the first time in their lives, and once the adrenaline wore off, Bruce found himself alone in a rented home in Colts Neck, New Jersey. There, he began writing new music alone and isolated.

            Those songs took divergent paths. One set, including the title track, would go on to Born in the USA, which would sell millions of albums, and a tour sent them into stadiums. Another set, recorded as demos to speed up the glacial pace of his recording, did not sound the way the incredibly demanding artist wanted when his band recorded them. “The Boss” is not always a complimentary nickname. Those demos would become Nebraska, which is what much of the movie is about and where the title comes from. Turning those solo recordings onto a plain old cassette tape would become a challenge for recording engineers.

            Bruce meets a young woman named Faye, a composite character rather than a specific girlfriend. She exposes to him how Bruce runs away from, for lack of a better word, things in life. Women, and soon to be a mega-star. He has always been an incredibly introspective man, and he had defense mechanisms in place to cope.

            It was always my intent (Cary) to let Kim judge the movie, but since I have been a very serious fan for forty-five years, I wanted to add perspective. I have also read Warren Zanes’ book Deliver Me from Nowhere twice, and I recommend that as well, particularly if you are into how music is created. After seeing the film, pulling those words from Nebraska’s lyrics for the title was spot on.

            I chronicled my history with Mr. Springsteen in my literary masterpiece (sarcasm emphasized), Travels with Covid, well, during. In Journey #3, I chronicle my history with Bruce. The book is available on Amazon, and we carry them in our vehicles.

            “We’re people too” became a tagline after a recent situation, and when considering how to subtitle, we forget that celebrities ARE just human beings like the rest of us. They are just more talented, luckier, and, in a few cases, wow, how did they become famous?

            Postscript

            The film is underperforming at the box office. Why? First, I have always said Springsteen fans are like Jimmy Buffett and the Grateful Dead. They do not go to a concert; they go to everyone they can. This reduces the potential audience. Secondly, most of his fans have AARP cards and would just as soon stream it at home in the near future. This is not a Sci-Fi film with special effects you must see on the big screen. Finally, Mr. Springsteen has chosen to criticize President Trump, alienating his supporters.

            As the great Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “So it goes…”