Carmy Does Bruce
Coming to us this October Jeremy Allen White will play Bruce Springsteen in Deliver Me From Nowhere a biopic about the conception of Bruce’s 1982 album Nebraska, when he was a young musician on the cusp of global superstardom.
Obviously dramatizing a life-story is not a new concept. From Elton to Elvis to Freddie; Buddy to Val; Tina (more women, please…). They’re entertaining, enlightening and box office friendly. So it makes sense more be made. However, some make more sense than others. Understandably ones own feelings about a biopic are related to ones personal connection to the subject.
Recently when Timothée Chalamet received critical acclaim for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown I listened to the rave reviews and wondered if I was the only one who was underwhelmed. While I realize how much preparation and practice went into learning all those songs, mannerisms and the harmonica! to me the performance seemed lightweight and fresh-faced. Dylan was anything but. I’d have much preferred watching Dylan do Dylan. Anything other feels fake. Cringe-worthy.
Now Jeremy Allen White will attempt Bruce.
I fell in love with Carmy during season 1 of The Bear. Those arms. Those sad baby blues. Jeremy Allen White is included in a sub-group of actor that came to be known as ‘Rodent Men’ — mousy with a toothy smile, and instead of a chiseled face like Brad Pitt … it’s more pointy… angular … big ears. They come off as edgy and elusive. You want to hug a Rodent Man, especially Carmy, into Happy.
I had a Rodent Man boyfriend once. He turned out to be gay which is all good I just wish he had told me he was gay before we started dating. To be fair he might not have known yet. But he sure figured it out. I severely digress.
Some might say I should give actors more credit. Perhaps. But Carmy has big boots to fill playing Bruce Springsteen. Jeremy is a small man. Even Bruce, who’s vertically challenged clears him by an inch or 2. (Of course, Jon Hamm would made even less sense.) But more seriously, Bruce is a larger-than-life beloved human personality and has a massive stage presence.
As much as I love Carmy I love Bruce more. His spirit. His essence. What he stands for. His truth on Broadway. Tunnel of Love has been the soundtrack to many-a road trip. I heard Bruce’s voice in the written word of his book, Born To Run. We shared a category for a 2017 Grammy nomination. Last year I sat within 10 feet of his body at a small event as he gifted an acoustic version of “Thunder Road.” Paralyzing.
I bow to Bruce.
It looks like he approves of the project.
That said, when you sell your music catalog for 550 Mill you can only make new royalties from future material. Like biopics. Or a new album of never heard-before demos that were hidden under rocks. If I remember correctly (and I do) working songwriters called this “squirreling” — when your publishing deal was coming to an end and you wanted to have collateral for the next one. 😳
Good for you Bruce! Beat the catalog-acquiring system. You have 3 kids. A lot of expenses.
All kidding aside, I am looking forward to seeing Deliver Me From Nowhere. How could I not? I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.Jeremy may have his work cut out for him and as much as I’m anticipating the cringe, you just never know.
So fire up the pop corn. Don’t let us down, Carmy. 🍿
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