Review: ‘Springsteen’ isn’t really a biopic — that’s 1 reason why it’s so good

Music biographies often follow a non-fussy trajectory, rallying their base with nostalgic re-creations of big concert moments and a sturdy timeline that begins with an idol’s birth and ending on a critical juncture in its subject’s life or even death.

Director and screenwriter Scott Cooper (“Crazy Heart,” “The Pale Blue Eye”)  scraps much of that and hones in on more risky terrain, a metaphysical crisis and near breaking point in the life of one of our greatest musical forces – Bruce Springsteen, The Boss.

That focus makes a huge difference — focusing on the nature of an artist rather than his career — and creates a far more nuanced, moving portrait about a fragile musician reluctantly approaching the perilous brink of international stardom while confronting demons that both threaten to destroy him and fuel his creative fire. The result of the artistic and personal tussle was “Nebraska,” an intensely personal, cathartic and stripped-down album that remains one of Springsteen’s most revered albums.

Cooper uses Warren Zanes’ book “Deliver Me from Nowhere” as the framework to sensitively craft how this New Jersey native (played with perception by Jeremy Allen White) holed up in a Spartanly furnished home in Colts Neck in 1981, after a triumphant tour with his band and the success of “The River” album. It was there that Springsteen used a 4-track recorder to do what was least expected, or wanted, of him, creating what would go on to be the critically raved about album “Nebraska.”

Cooper brings us into the soul searching of Springsteen who, along with the patient guidance of empathetic manager Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong) confronted childhood memories (re-created effectively in black-and-white flashbacks) of life with an abusive father (Stephen Graham) and a long-suffering but supportive mother (Gaby Hoffman).

Rather than paying standard lip service to a tortured artist portrait, Cooper does something braver and far more interesting by making a film that essentially mirrors the mood of Springsteen’s “Nebraska,” stripping what we see down to its essential, sometimes depressive, core and becoming more acoustic in its storytelling. While that might turn some off who want more concert footage — there are songs tucked in here including “Born in the U.S.A,” what we become the title to track his massive follow-up album — “Deliver Me From Nowhere” is far more intent on staying in tune with who Springsteen was at that time and how he spiraled into darker places. He frequently wouldn’t allow romantic partners to enter the process, including the single mom/composite character of Faye Romano (Odessa Young).

That relationship does come off a little less formed in the film but it’s essential, as is Springsteen’s friendship with guitar tech Mike Batlan (Paul Walter Hauser, delivering needed humorous relief). Both perform like backup singers as Springsteen takes center stage to make “Nebraska,” which was  inspired largely by Terrence Malick’s 1973 neo-noir directorial debut, which in turn was inspired by the actions of two real-life killers.

As Springsteen reconciles with what happened in the past and moves toward forgiveness, “Deliver Me from Nowhere” earns its tears as does White who while not being the mirror image of Springsteen conveys the spiritual essence of The Boss. Cooper’s deeply introspective film is a quiet beauty that understands and has compassion for how creativity and depression so often can be inexorably linked and produce such iconic works.

‘SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE’

3½ stars out of 4

Rating: PG-13 (thematic material, some sexuality, strong language, smoking)

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, Stephen Graham, Odessa Young

Director/screenwriter: Scott Cooper

Running time: 1 hour, 59 minutes

When & where: Opens Oct 24 in area theaters