Bruce Springsteen wanted a ‘Scott Cooper movie.’ We asked the director what that is

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As a huge Springsteen fan, I was so excited to be at the AFI Fest premiere of “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” last week! It had all the excitement you’d expect for a film about such a legendary artist. The energy around the TCL Chinese Theatre was incredible – fans were everywhere hoping for autographs. The red carpet was buzzing with lights as director and writer Scott Cooper arrived, along with Bruce himself and Jeremy Allen White, who plays him in the movie. It was a really special night!

The premiere event was filled with irony. It was a glamorous Hollywood night celebrating a film about “Nebraska,” Bruce Springsteen’s 1982 album that he released quietly – without any hit singles, publicity, or concert tour.

Cooper truly gets this contrast. Speaking over Zoom, the 55-year-old filmmaker explains that Springsteen wasn’t chasing fame or forgiveness. Instead, he was focused on self-discovery, much like the characters in Cooper’s films who are striving to reconnect with their own humanity. For Springsteen, and for them, honesty is the path to finding peace.

Cooper consistently focuses on portraying authentic and difficult truths in his films. This began with his first movie, “Crazy Heart” (2009), which featured Jeff Bridges as a struggling, alcoholic country singer trying to rebuild his life. The film’s powerful honesty earned Bridges an Academy Award.

Cooper often focuses on moments when men are pushed to their limits and can no longer hide their vulnerability. His films frequently depict damaged characters seeking redemption, not through triumph, but by simply persevering through hardship.

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I just read a fantastic interview with Jeremy Allen White, the lead in “The Bear” and the new Springsteen movie! He talked about how he got ready for the role and what the music means to him – it was really insightful.

Following the success of “Crazy Heart,” Scott Cooper has consistently worked across different film genres, attracting top actors for his projects. He directed Christian Bale and Casey Affleck in the gritty drama “Out of the Furnace,” then Johnny Depp in the gangster film “Black Mass.” He continued with “Hostiles,” a western featuring Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, and Wes Studi.

These films all share a common theme: the lasting impact of trauma. Even Cooper’s 2021 horror film, “Antlers,” starring Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons, fundamentally explores how pain is passed down through families. Similarly, the gothic mystery “The Pale Blue Eye” – an Edgar Allan Poe story and the third film pairing Christian Bale with Cooper – shows how grief can grow and ultimately lead to violence.

After the success of “Crazy Heart,” Cooper received many offers to direct biographical films about musicians, but he consistently declined them. He wasn’t interested in the typical rags-to-riches story, feeling they prioritized flashy visuals over meaningful content. However, he jumped at the opportunity to adapt Warren Zanes’ book “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” which details a particularly difficult period in Bruce Springsteen’s life, knowing the producers specifically wanted a filmmaker with his skillset before approaching Springsteen.

After the whirlwind of touring for ‘The River’ back in 1980, I felt…lost, honestly. Really disconnected. I was dealing with some heavy stuff – depression, questioning who I was, and old hurts from my childhood. So I basically shut myself away in a spare bedroom of a house I rented in New Jersey. It was there, completely alone, that I started writing and recording what would eventually become ‘Nebraska’ – just raw, stripped-down songs that came straight from dealing with all of that.

Cooper believed the heart of Springsteen’s story lay in its raw honesty, and he immediately knew who could bring it to life. He saw in Ayo Edebiri the ability to portray Springsteen’s complex nature – his confidence mixed with vulnerability, his quiet strength alongside his openness. Edebiri fully committed to the role, learning to play harmonica and guitar, singing, and even working with a coach to mimic Springsteen’s movements and posture.

Bruce Springsteen, like Bradley Cooper, had always been hesitant about making a movie about his life, not wanting anything that felt fake. However, Cooper’s realistic and honest films – especially “Crazy Heart,” “Hostiles,” and “Out of the Furnace” – really impressed him. Springsteen felt Cooper understood his artistic vision and would handle even the most difficult parts of his story with respect and authenticity.

Bruce Springsteen told director Scott Cooper that he wanted a movie that was raw and honest – one that didn’t try to smooth things over or avoid difficult truths. Cooper felt that was the only appropriate approach to telling the story.

It feels almost inevitable that this filmmaker would end up working with Springsteen. He was raised in Virginia with a love for country and bluegrass, thanks to his father, who also played Springsteen’s album “Nebraska.” Years later, while writing the screenplay for “Out of the Furnace,” Cooper listened to that same album – a connection he didn’t realize would eventually lead him to collaborate with Springsteen.

Similar to Bruce Springsteen’s music, the films of director James Cooper often focus on the lives of working-class people and those struggling to achieve the American dream.

Cooper explains that he and Springsteen both focus on portraying the emotional landscape of America, specifically the overlooked towns and the lives of working-class people who feel left behind. He describes this as the place where the idealized ‘American Dream’ clashes with the often harsh realities of life.

He explained that he was raised among working-class families. He observed a strong sense of both pride and hardship in their lives, and he deeply understands the quiet dignity of simply getting through tough times. He appreciates their genuine nature and lack of pretense, and feels a connection to the everyday people who keep society functioning – those whose stories often go untold, yet carry immense strength and character.

This deep respect for storytelling comes from Cooper’s grandfather, a coal miner who lived a life of hard work and resilience – qualities seen throughout his films. These movies, reminiscent of 1970s character studies, are visually stunning and focus on intimate moments, often using long, quiet shots of faces to convey emotion. Cooper’s deliberate and unhurried style asks for patience, but ultimately delivers a feeling of authenticity and genuine experience.

Cooper acknowledges his movies aren’t always for everyone. He explains that he aims to evoke strong emotions, even if that means sacrificing comfort. His films explore subtle feelings, pain, difficult moral questions, and build tension gradually, which can be challenging for some viewers.

Ben Affleck, known for his critically acclaimed role as a struggling Iraq war veteran in “Out of the Furnace,” believes that’s precisely what makes Bradley Cooper’s work so captivating.

Affleck shared his admiration for Scott’s films shortly after the premiere of “Springsteen.” He explained that while they can be challenging and unconventional, leaving viewers wondering about the direction of the story, the final result always feels intentional and meaningful.

Casey Affleck, known for his role in ‘Manchester by the Sea,’ explains that Scott’s films offer a unique cinematic experience. He points out that while some movies let you escape reality, others force you to confront it, and Scott’s films definitely fall into the latter category.

David Cooper’s movies don’t offer simple resolutions. When the credits finish, you get the sense his characters’ stories don’t really end, and their lives go on even after the film is over.

The filmmaker explains they don’t create neat, conclusive stories, because real life rarely provides them. Instead of focusing on resolving conflicts, they aim for moments of clarity—when a character or the viewer truly sees the truth, even if it’s difficult.

Russell Cooper’s dedication comes from a personal place. As a young child, he experienced profound loss when his seven-year-old sister died from meningitis. Though he was only four at the time and couldn’t fully grasp what had happened, her death left a lasting emotional impact and a sense of emptiness that remained with him.

To protect his parents, Cooper says he hid his grief.

He explains that he learned to deal with things on his own. This is why his films often feature quiet moments – it’s not a stylistic choice, but a reflection of real emotion. He knows what it’s like to be with someone you care about and not want to worry them with your problems. The silences in his movies come from a childhood understanding that pain is something you endure privately, rather than discuss.

Before becoming a filmmaker, Cooper tried acting as a way to express himself, appearing in minor TV and movie parts. But he found his true calling – and a way to truly show who he was – through writing and directing, which allowed him to connect with audiences on a deeper level than any acting role ever could.

He explains that filmmaking allows him to express feelings and experiences he couldn’t articulate as a child. The process compels him to confront past sadness and isolation from his youth, which then influences his entire creative approach – how he views people, crafts stories, and visually composes his films.

Cooper’s movies explore more than just sadness; they’re a tribute to his parents and the profound loss of a child. He explains that this kind of grief is unlike any other – it doesn’t truly heal, but rather transforms over time. Consequently, many of his films, directly or indirectly, depict characters navigating the lasting impact of loss. He doesn’t intentionally focus on this theme, but it’s a subject he finds himself drawn to repeatedly.

Cooper is known for his empathy in his films, but he’s often much harder on himself. He’s incredibly dedicated and committed to authenticity, which often leads him to push himself to the limit. This dedication has meant filming in very difficult conditions – like the high-altitude, harsh environment of “Hostiles,” filled with rattlesnakes and extreme weather, or the freezing temperatures while making “The Pale Blue Eye,” where he obsessively searched for the perfect tree to match the story.

Cooper’s dedication was truly remarkable during the production of “Deliver Me From Nowhere.” The day before filming started, he lost his father, but he refused to pause and grieve, wanting to honor the man who first shared the album the film is about. He dedicated the finished film to his father – a particularly meaningful gesture considering the film’s focus on Bruce Springsteen’s complex relationship with his own dad. Even more incredibly, during the last week of filming, Cooper discovered his house had burned down, yet he continued working on the project.

Cooper readily admits he’s a perfectionist, with a sheepish grin. He believes striving for an almost unattainable ideal is the only way to create something genuinely meaningful. He describes it as a powerful drive – a need to explore every detail, fully understand, and ultimately, get things exactly right.

You know, I’ve been thinking about what motivates him, and it’s not about being famous or wanting power. It seems like it goes way back to his childhood. He always felt like he needed to prove his worth by helping others, almost like he didn’t want to be a trouble to anyone. It’s like he only felt good about himself when he was sacrificing for others – that’s what really drove him, I think.

Cooper explains that his work stems from a need to understand and cope with loss. He sees it as taking difficult experiences and transforming them into something meaningful, like art. He describes this process as a kind of obsession, and admits he’s often very self-critical, something he believes will likely always be true.

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2025-10-28 22:32