NEW YORK -- NEW YORK (AP) — Jeremy Allen White grew up listening to Bruce Springsteen.He doesn’t even remember a time in his life when he wasn’t aware of his music.
But sing his songs? It wasn’t until White began preparing to play the rock ’n' roll legend for “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” that he even tried.“I had never really sang anything, never mind Bruce,” White says.“There was a leap of faith that we were all taking.”There’s an established playbook for music biopics.
“Deliver Me From Nowhere” ignored all of it.The film, written and directed by Scott Cooper (“Crazy Heart,” “Black Mass”), eschews the standard life-spanning, play-the-hits approach and instead focuses on a small portion of Springsteen’s sprawling life: the making of his 1982 album, “Nebraska.”The album, a minimalist masterpiece recorded on a four track in Springsteen’s bedroom in Colts Neck, New Jersey, doesn’t lend itself to anything like a glossy big-screen jukebox.
“Deliver Me From Nowhere,” instead, is aimed more at the soul of Springsteen.For the role, Cooper turned to who he considers one of the best actors of his generation — even though he had no singing experience.
“I remember early on speaking to Scott about the project and being really excited to do it with him but also telling him, ‘Hey, I don’t know how to play the guitar and I’ve never really sang before.Are we going to be able to figure out this together?’” White recalls.
“But Scott had faith.And Bruce had faith.
And we trusted each other.”“Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” which 20th Century Studios will release Oct.24 in theaters, is the first movie based on Springsteen’s life.
It was made with Springsteen’s involvement; he gave input to on the script, on casting and attended several days on set.It’s also the first leading movie role for White, the 34-year-old Emmy-winning star of “The Bear,” who sings all the songs in the film.
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