Bruce Springsteen’s biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere branded ‘clunky’ and ‘boring’ in first reviews as critics say it’s ‘a waste of a fascinating subject’

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Critics have had a mixed reaction to Bruce Springsteen’s biopic, ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’, with some calling it awkward and unengaging.

This movie is adapted from Warren Zanes’ book, *Deliver Me From Nowhere*, which details the creation of Bruce Springsteen’s album *Nebraska* (1982).

As a huge fan, I was thrilled to learn they filmed most of it right here in New York and New Jersey! It really captured the vibe of the story. They did venture out to Los Angeles for a few scenes, but the bulk of the production was definitely on the East Coast.

Jeremy Allen White stars as the main character in the new movie, alongside Scott Cooper, Odessa Young, Stephen Graham, Jeremy Strong, and Jon Landau.

Jeremy was a ‘top choice’ by bosses to play Bruce, and was confirmed as the film’s lead in April. 

On Wednesday, the singer of “Born in the USA” attended the London premiere of the film at the BFI on the South Bank.

Early reviews are starting to come in before the movie hits theaters on October 24th, and critics have mixed opinions.

In a review for The Guardian, Adrian Horton rated the film three stars, noting that the story behind Bruce Springsteen’s shift towards more politically charged art – influenced by authors like Flannery O’Connor and television shows – is a compelling one.

It’s hard to truly see what’s happening inside someone’s mind when they’re creating, the struggles and breakthroughs. Instead, we mostly see Bruce Willis writing song lyrics with dramatic flair—he even writes “Why???” on a piece of paper while reading an old article about Charles Starkweather, a murderer whose story inspired one of the songs. Apparently, Starkweather’s motive was simply being angry with the world.

The reviewer notes that the film *Deliver Me From Nowhere* wisely avoids turning Bruce Springsteen into a legendary figure. She concludes by saying she left the theater feeling moved by the film’s depiction of Atlantic City, and has been captivated by its music ever since, appreciating how it captures the spirit of American life – which is, she suggests, what audiences ultimately want from a biographical film.

Tim Robey, film critic for The Telegraph, commends Jeremy’s performance as The Boss, highlighting his ability to embody Springsteen’s thoughtfulness, humility, and inner struggles.

He rated the movie four stars and added that it wasn’t a flashy or over-the-top depiction, and it didn’t showcase Jeremy Allen White (from ‘The Bear’) in a particularly showy role.

When White really tries to capture the energy of a Springsteen performance – especially when finishing with ‘Born to Run’ – he pushes himself so hard that he appears dangerously strained, almost as if he might suffer a stroke.

According to The Times, Jeremy doesn’t measure up to Bruce, with film critic Kevin Maher stating Bruce is a ‘quite the bore’ as a leading man.

He gave the movie only two stars and criticized the lead actor’s performance, saying he didn’t resemble Springsteen at all. He compared it to a poorly executed costume or dressing an animal up as the singer, finding the attempt very distracting.

Ultimately, this film is really only for die-hard Bruce Springsteen fans. They’ll likely enjoy it the most, enthusiastically celebrating everything about him. It’s probably best suited for that audience.

According to Variety, the documentary Deliver Me From Nowhere doesn’t adequately explain the impact Bruce Springsteen’s album Nebraska had on his career.

Film critic Peter Debruge notes the movie highlights the challenges Bruce’s tapes presented to manager Jon Landau (played by Jeremy Strong) and recording engineer Chuck Plotkin (Marc Maron) and their team. However, the technical issues aren’t as intense as they seem, and most viewers won’t find much interest in watching White deal with the musician’s initial struggle with depression.

In a recent review, Pete Hammond of Deadline cautions viewers not to expect a simple collection of the best moments from this film.

In a particularly enthusiastic review, he called the biopic authentic and highly praised the lead actor, Jeremy.

Despite having no previous musical experience, White spent five months learning to sing and play guitar from professional instructors. The effort clearly paid off – he performs with remarkable authenticity, but it’s more than just a copycat act; it’s a genuine performance.

Dulcie Pearce of The Sun criticized the film, calling it a disappointment given its interesting topic and giving it a two-star rating. She described the movie as awkwardly made.

She felt White’s portrayal of a troubled genius was decent, but he relied too much on looking distant and lost in thought.

She describes it as a treat for dedicated fans, but also points out the flashbacks featuring Stephen Graham as Bruce’s father, an alcoholic, feel out of place.

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2025-10-16 13:05