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Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere hews closely to the record, zeroing in on 1981–82 as Bruce Springsteen crafts Nebraska, battles depression, and pushes his label to release stark home demos. Guided by Springsteen, the film gets major beats right: childhood bar pickups of his father, ad-hoc Stone Pony jams, a Badlands spark for the title track, four-track bedroom recording, abandoned E Street versions, and Born in the U.S.A. songs taking shape. One invented composite girlfriend compresses real relationships. The portrait also faces family turmoil and illness, a lost father in L.A., and a cross-country move with friend Matt Delia.

Prepared by Anthony Ross and reviewed by editorial team.