Rating of
3/4
Solid rock movie focusing on drama over spectacle
Norrin - wrote on 11/08/25
Leave it to Bruce Springsteen to have the first official docudrama movie about him focus on a sliver of his life when (a) he was writing and recording his most divisive uncommercial album (Nebraska) and (b) he was depressed and not much was going on in his life at the time. They even created a made up girlfriend to add some romance to the movie. What we do get is the ultimate pure art v. Commercial product movie, that ends up working surprisingly well as a powerful father/son relationship drama. Jeremy Allen White is outstanding as the “boss”, capturing both his charisma and his sullenness. All supporting acting is excellent, and the director does a good job of bringing early 1980s at the Jersey Shore to life. On the flip-side this is a slow paced introspective movie that is short on rock and roll spectacle, despite a concert scene or two. Don’t expect a masterpiece like “The Doors” and you will be rewarded with an effective, moving deep dive into the mind of a rock star.
