https://rollingstone.com.br/cinema/springsteen-salve-me-do-desconhecido-critica/

It is estimated that almost 5% of the world’s population has depression. And there is no distinction: anyone can be affected. Until Bruce Springsteen at the height of his fame. Even in the early 1980s, with the album The River at the top of the charts in the US, he began to feel an emptiness.

The result was Nebraska: acoustic album recorded amateurly at home and released under resistance from the record company, but at the insistence of the artist and his manager, Jon Landau. The history of the period took on dramatic contours when it became a biopic Springsteen: Save Me From the Unknowninspired by the book Deliver Me from Nowherefrom Warren Zanes.

As promised by the director Scott Cooperthe film deviates from the traditional format of biopicwhether due to its limited time frame or its obscure theme. There are glimpses of Bruce’s glory, but the focus is on the battles within and the connection of this to his childhood, often addressed by flashbacks.

This isn’t a movie about Bruce Springsteen or Nebraska. It’s a film about depression, with the American musician as the main character. Therefore, most of its most important scenes occur with the protagonist still a child (represented by Matthew Anthony Pellicano) next to the warm mother, Adele (Gaby Hoffmann), and the abusive and alcoholic father, Douglas (Stephen Graham). The tense relationship between Douglas and little Bruce guides the plot.

But, of course, scenes with the potential to arouse greater public interest bring Jeremy Allen White. The adult Springsteen interpreter avoids caricatured imitations. Sometimes it even seems Carmy Berzattohis character in the series The Bearwhich shot him to fame. And most of the time it works, because it sounds spontaneous.

Jeremy Strong (from the series Succession) rocks like Jon Landaua man who began as a fierce music critic and, in the mid-70s, saw the “future of rock” in Springsteen and became his manager/producer. Without Landau’s firmness in dealing with the record company, Nebraska it would just be a collection of discarded demos. And without Strong’s solid acting, Springsteen: Save Me From the Unknown would lose strength.

Another success: Scott Cooper and the cast waste no time in dictating the pace. 10 minutes into the film we are already in Colts Neck, the city in which Bruce isolates himself and creates Nebraska. In 20 the composition process begins, with the right to show the modest recording equipment for the demos. It’s nice to see.

Arising amidst more weighty existential questions, the artistic dilemma that many would believe to be the main hook of the film even loses importance. I’m talking about the dispute to save the songs of Born in the USA and launch Nebraska just like Springsteen wanted. But the situation is there, and that’s when Strong’s performance imposes itself.

The big mistake occurs when Cooper surrenders to Hollywood’s demands by inventing a character who has a romance with Bruce. Interpreted by Odessa Young (The Daughter), Faye Romano seeks to add elements from other women in the artist’s life. In real history, Springsteen was single at the time and, given his mental state, it was impossible to even imagine him with anyone. Good performance by Young aside, Romano is “left over” in the plot. It only serves to reinforce the existence of the musician’s negative feelings and deliver a couple, something required in big studio dramas.

There are those who may still be bothered by the reduced number of musical moments, but given the chosen direction, it was expected. White sings really — and well — while the actors who play the E Street Band appear almost as often as the random musicians at the bar The Stone Ponyfrequented by Springsteen in between composition breaks. As a curiosity: Jake and Sam Kiszkarespectively guitarist and bassist of Greta Van Fleetand Jay Buchananlead singer of Rival Sons, are part of the “unknown” band.

Fact is that Springsteen: Save Me From the Unknown is facing inwards. Therefore, its strongest passages occur when focusing on silence, economic dialogues or music. Perhaps the direction could challenge showbiz paradigms like Bruce did with Nebraskabut the result is honest and lives up to The Boss.

** In Brazil, the Centro de Valorização da Vida (CVV), a non-profit civil association, offers emotional support and suicide prevention, free of charge, 24 hours a day. Anyone who wants and needs to talk can contact CVV, confidentially, by calling 188, in addition to email, chat and Skype, available on the website www.cvv.org.br.

+++ READ MORE: The importance of Jon Landau to Bruce Springsteen
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• Bruce Springsteen

• Jeremy Allen White

• jeremy strong

• Jon Landau

• Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

• Springsteen: Save Me From the Unknown