Everywhere and Nowhere All At Once: Analyzing “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere"

Jeremy Allen White depicted as Bruce Springsteen in the 2025 film, “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.” The movie poster portrays Bruce Springsteen (White) on stage at a performance. Photo credentials: IMDb

Ella Hudzik, Staff Writer for the Powderhorn

As the weather gets colder and the leaves change their colors, it becomes that time of year to find activities fit for a rainy, fall day. A tried and true classic might be grabbing a couple of friends to go see a movie. Although there are many new releases with riveting reviews, one movie in particular takes the cake. Rock and roll music, emotional turmoil, and a captivating screenplay can all be seen in “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.” 

Spoilers Ahead

This movie follows the story of American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bruce Springsteen. Nicknamed “The Boss” and known for his heartland rock style of music, Springsteen makes music that reflects on his own life experiences, interpersonal relationships, and the working class of American life. He is famous for his energetic performances that have sold out stadiums and his successful albums that have won over the hearts of millions. While his stardom is widely recognized, what did it take for this legend to earn his fame? 

The story begins in Springsteen's hometown of Freehold, New Jersey, with a younger depiction of Springsteen riding alone on his bike, to drag his father out of the local bar. The audience shortly after discovers that this is a normal occurrence resulting in outbursts that tear Springsteen's home life apart and creates a lot of childhood trauma for Springsteen. This creates some sort of emotional tension for the viewers, tying them to the story being told through the eyes of “Springsteen”. 

This is only a stress-induced flashback, because, after the black and white picture, the scene cuts to a much older version of Springsteen (Jeremy Allen White) giving it his all to the audience at a local club called “The Stone Pony” in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Shortly after this show, Springsteen is on the road journeying back to his home town. 

Springsteen uses the time he spends back in his home town to revisit all of the places from his childhood that hold those memories he treasures. He goes back to all of these places and uses what he remembers to create song lyrics for pieces he is working on for his upcoming album. 

The thing about Springsteen's music is that all of it is full of emotion. In the movie, Springsteen is depicted as a shy and reserved person at first glance, so his music is what really brings out the light in him. The time he takes at home shows the audience how much of a genuine and hardworking person Springsteen is. Staying in his hometown is the reason he gets so much inspiration for his album “Nebraska.” The movie shows what it’s like for him writing the album and how it affects his mental health. Knowing that the stars we idolize struggle in the same ways we do creates a sort of comforting feeling throughout the movie. 

Around halfway throughout the movie, the audience witnesses the story of how Springsteen falls in love with his first wife, Julianne Phillips. While the ups and downs of their relationship almost felt like a roller coaster to watch, it was so beautiful to see how Springsteen was able to struggle and find that balance between his fame and his personal relationships. 

After many months of battling with his mental health, Springsteen decides it’s time for a change of scenery. He grabs his instruments, and hits the road with his band and producer off to Los Angeles, California. It’s a new beginning, but something is still holding him back, or maybe it’s someone. 

My favorite part of the movie was when, after arriving in California, Springsteen and a couple of bandmates decide to attend the state fair. While at the state fair, Springsteen sees a father and son standing close to each other and he envisions them as him and his own father. This scene of the movie is arguably the most emotional and tear-jerking turning point. In a blink of an eye, the screen starts cutting between visions of young Springsteen, his father and mother, and Julianne. This is when Springsteen realizes that he needs to find closure with all the baggage that might be holding his true authentic self back. 

Walking into the theatre not knowing anything about Bruce Springsteen made me feel like I would almost fall asleep watching “Deliver Me From Nowhere.”But the truth is, you don’t have to be a fanatic about him or his music to enjoy this movie. The energy of the scenes, the effect the actors had on the audience, and the coloration of every clip made me feel like I was truly reliving the events in Springsteen’s life. It felt like I wasn’t just watching how a star is made, but how the everyday life of them isn’t as glamorous as it may seem. 

The main takeaway of the movie is that life as a whole isn’t always picture perfect, but the experience as a whole is one worth staying for. Leaving the theatre, I had a feeling of contentment in the life I’m building step by step, but that might just be the Springsteen effect working its charm.