How Blue-Eyed Jeremy Allen White Became Brown-Eyed Bruce Springsteen in "Deliver Me From Nowhere"
Scott Cooper’s biopic about Bruce Springsteen, Deliver Me from Nowhere, got several key elements right. The depiction of the intense energy during the studio recording of “Born in the USA” felt as vibrant and exciting as the real event. The costume design was impressive and authentically worn-in, adding to the film’s realism.
Portraying Springsteen, Jeremy Allen White captured the complex persona of a man whose rapid rise to fame was marked by unspoken depression and childhood trauma. The film suggests Springsteen may have treated women poorly in his twenties and thirties. For example, a memorable breakup line addressed to his love interest Faye—after months of avoiding her calls—was,
“I can’t love you any more or any differently than I do right now.”
However, the movie also had its shortcomings, including overused quick cuts to lyric-writing and scenes heavy with unresolved paternal issues, which are common but sometimes clichéd biopic tropes.
A standout achievement of the film was the transformation of Jeremy Allen White’s natural blue eyes into Bruce Springsteen’s brown eyes, thanks to the skill of special-effects ocularist Jessica Nelson, a fact she shared with GQ. This detail resonated strongly with viewers who have brown eyes.
“If you haven’t been keeping up with Jeremy Allen White’s career, the man owes a lot to his natural blues,” Jessica Nelson explained.
Author’s summary: The film authentically captures Springsteen’s energy and struggles, highlighted by a striking eye transformation that added depth to Jeremy Allen White’s portrayal.