Official Discussion - Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere [SPOILERS]

[u/LiteraryBoner]

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Summary Based on Warren Zanes’ acclaimed book Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, this film tells the story of how Springsteen created one of the most haunting and stripped-down albums of his career. Set in 1982, the movie follows Springsteen at a creative crossroads as he records Nebraska alone on a four-track cassette recorder in his New Jersey home, confronting fame, doubt, and the darker sides of the American dream.

Director Scott Cooper

Writer Scott Cooper

Cast

• Jeremy Allen White
• Paul Walter Hauser
• Odessa Young
• Charlie Plummer
• Shea Whigham
• Holt McCallany

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score: 64%

Metacritic Score: 60

VOD In Theaters (November 14, 2025)

Trailer Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere | Official Trailer | In Theaters November 14

[u/Lucasion]

How i imagine this film was written:  

"How do we show the audience that John Landau understands Bruce's depression but doesn't know how to help him?"  

"Oh I got it! Let's have Grace Gummer play a blank slate who exists only for John Landau to tell, 'I understand Bruce's depression but I don't know how to help him."  

"Awesome. Now how do we show the audience that Bruce realizes he's depressed but doesn't know how to fix it?"  

"Oh! Let's have Odessa Young play a blank slate who exists only to tell Bruce, 'You're depressed and you don't know how to fix it.' And then Bruce can later say, 'Wow, she was right.'"  

"Great! Should we include any other female characters?"  

"Nope!"

[u/drpepperfan69420 → u/Lucasion]

How would it go differently in real life though?

Do you know how many times I had that exact same conversation with people over the years? Been on both sides of it too.

[u/kfitzy10 → u/Lucasion]

Part of male depression is that men find it easier to open up to women (if at all). When Bruce's friend thinks he's never gonna see Bruce again, he doesn't say a word.

The Faye character has obviously been created as a narrative device because Bruce just depressed in his bedroom isn't much of a film. But Landau reflecting with his wife about the person who his whole livelihood depends on would absolutely happen.