Bruce Springsteen is many things to many people. But Scott Cooper wants us to know that, above all else, he was human.
Directed by Cooper, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere follows Bruce Springsteen (Jeremy Allen White) as he sits on the cusp of mega-stardom. Though, after the success of ‘Born to Run’, the Boss believes that it’s time for something different. Holing himself up in his New Jersey bedroom with a four-track recorder, Springsteen begins work on what would become his 1982 album, ‘Nebraska’. However, as he wrestles through each tune, so too must he wrestle with his own demons, scratching and clawing for hope in the process.
(L-R) Jeremy Strong as Jon Landau and Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in 20th Century Studios’ SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
In Springsteen, Cooper certainly wants to emphasize the ‘Nowhere’ aspect of his storytelling. Bathing the screen with muted colour, every scene feels as though its covered with a layer of dust. Buildings are rusted, sunny days feel cloud-covered and nightclubs seem grungy. Even Springsteen’s “fancy” new ride feels as though its seen better days. But all of this is intentional. Cooper never allows us to view this as a world of glitz and glamour. Although we know it’s New Jersey, it feels like it’s everywhere and… well… nowhere.
After all, Springsteen has never been an artist who portrayed himself as better than anyone else. And everything about this depiction of ‘the Boss’ feels relatable. He may be a rock ‘n’ roll superstar who receives royal treatment – “In this town, I’m king,” he points out – but it never seems to inflate his ego. Tapping into the visual sensibilities of the film, Springsteen is shown to be a simple man. He balances playing stadiums with his name in lights with performances in nightclubs in anonymity.
Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in 20th Century Studios’ SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE. Photo by Macall Polay. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved
It’s worth noting that White delivers an uncanny performance as the musical icon. Disappearing into the role, he scrunches his shoulders and speaks through the side of his mouth in ways that have defined Springsteen when not on stage. What’s more, every tune that he offers feels almost guttural as White roars with Springsteen’s distinctive growl.
However, Cooper manages to avoid one of the most common trappings of the musical biopic. Despite the fact that the film is about the creation of Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska’ album, the film never (fully) becomes a ‘recipe’ for his music. While there are moments that focus on particular tunes, Nowhere doesn’t make it easy. There are few moments of random inspiration. We watch him struggle with the development of his most iconic tunes, fighting for style and substance against a studio that wants pop accessibility for marketing purposes.
In short, it’s hard to create history.
Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in 20th Century Studios’ SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Yet, ironically, the best part about Springsteen isn’t the music. Whereas most musical biopics rely on the soundtrack to give the film its cultural relevance (still looking at you, Bohemian Rhapsody), Nowhere’s most powerful moments come away from the microphone. Yes, the soundtrack is necessary to the overall success of the film. (How could it not be?) But Nowhere wants to explore what’s going on within the artist’s soul as opposed to the art itself.
In Nowhere, Cooper’s film delves deeply into the psyche of Springsteen as he battles the demons of abuse that he experienced in his childhood. Black and white flashbacks augment the present moment, adding weight to Springsteen’s personal struggles. As his mental health declines, his inner turmoil isn’t overplayed. There are no ‘awards-push’ performances with shattered glass or fights through walls. Instead, Allen keeps Springsteen’s emotions in check, communicating the devastation in his soul through the shadows in his eyes. Saying very little, Allen’s performance speaks volumes.
Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in 20th Century Studios’ SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
And it’s in these moments that the film truly shines. Rather than portray Springsteen as a god among men, there’s a humanness that shines through in Allen’s performance. At no point in the film are we meant to see him as some sort of superhero. Instead, he too is also a broken man, struggling to find his next breath when the ground begins to fall out from underneath him. He’s not bulletproof. And Cooper uses his film to challenge the stereotypes associated with masculinity and mental health.
That’s the real power of Cooper’s Springsteen story. While the (surprisingly infrequent) tunes rock when given the opportunity, we’re meant to experience the pain of the agonizing battle that he fought within himself. And that honest portrayal of the tortured artist is what makes this film truly rock.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is available in theatres on Friday, October 24th, 2025.
