Generally, even the Google AI Overview will get it proper. Generally. In looking for affirmation as to when Scott Cooper‘s Bruce Springsteen movie, “Springsteen: Ship Me from Nowhere,” first tacked on that “Springsteen,” a fast Google search helped, as did the AI Overview leering at me from the highest of the web page.
Essential findings reigned. First up: “The preliminary title of the movie was ‘Ship Me from Nowhere,’ primarily based on Warren Zanes’ e-book” (true!). Subsequent: “The title was formally modified to ‘Springsteen: Ship Me from Nowhere‘ in June 2025, in line with information experiences and the film’s manufacturing standing updates” (effectively, actually, it was a brand new trailer, however OK). Lastly: “The change was made to make it clear to the viewers that the movie is a biopic about Bruce Springsteen.” Ah, effectively.
Besides, effectively, it’s probably not. Not less than, not in the best way {that a} potential movie-goer who shouldn’t be already a fan of The Boss would count on to see in the event that they’re hitting the multiplex to take a look at the “Springsteen biopic.” Including his title to the entrance of movie’s title — once more, a title pulled instantly from a much-loved and well-known e-book on the topic — was the primary signal that the twentieth Century Studios powers that be had been getting a bit squirrelly about their huge fall function.
What’s “Springsteen: Ship Me from Nowhere” actually about? As our personal David Ehrlich wrote in his overview out of Telluride, it “is a semi-desolate sketch of a biopic a few depressed 32-year-old man” who can be “haunted by unresolved childhood trauma and affected by a melancholy that he is aware of the best way to sing about however lacks the phrases to diagnose” and “is at its greatest in the course of the frequent stretches when it finds Bruce staring on the partitions of his remoted rental house in Colts Neck.”
Trailers for the movie — which has now screened at Telluride, New York Movie Competition, and AFI Fest, to call a number of, so it’s definitely not hiding — play up the extra glitzy and recognizable moments of Springsteen’s profession. These are additionally moments which have comparatively little to do with the movie itself. If moviegoers are taking advertising on its face, who may blame them for anticipating to see a movie about Bruce and the E Road Band on the highway? That’s what this trailer opens with.
Or, think about this clip, the one one on twentieth Century Studios’ devoted “Ship Me from Nowhere” YouTube web page, which is solely comprised of a efficiency of “Born to Run.” For these preserving observe, Cooper’s movie is in regards to the creation of Springsteen’s album “Nebraska.” “Born to Run” is not a observe that seems on that album. And whereas this efficiency is certainly a part of the movie, it’s a really bizarre decide to characterize the complete function.
Look, I’m the final particular person to suppose {that a} movie a few depressive episode in a world famous person’s early profession makes for the best of sells. (Nicely, small observe right here, I feel most musical biopics ought to in all probability be a few depressive episode in a world famous person’s early profession, however I don’t run a movie studio.) I get the impulse to attempt to make this appear to be one thing extra broad, however that’s a mistake.
I fear that when even informal Bruce followers present as much as see the film, they’ll count on to see what they’ve seen within the trailers: The Boss leaping round on stage, enjoying “Born in the united statesA.,” celebrating one other smash hit present with the E Road Band. Hell, they’ll count on to see considerably extra of the E Road Band typically.
This isn’t that movie. It’s higher for it, and it’s additionally a a lot more durable promote.
Different advertising, the sort of stuff that individuals who would want to hunt out (like, oh, huge followers of Bruce) is extra sincere, like this featurette all about Cooper’s method to this particular time in The Boss’ life and profession. Cooper isn’t shying away from what kind of movie he’s made, even when audiences may be shocked. As he instructed IndieWire earlier this week, “So many individuals have preconceived notions a few music movie about Bruce Springsteen. Or a movie that they wish to see, just like the ‘Born in the united statesA.’ or ‘Born to Run’ story. … That is in all probability essentially the most sudden story that people will get a few music icon. … I’m realizing this movie shouldn’t be what folks anticipated. Now, whether or not it’s what they needed is one other factor.”
If it’s not clear: I’m an enormous Springsteen fan. I’ve seen him stay over a dozen instances — that features precise live shows, performances at premieres (just like the NYFF premiere), and fairly actually stay in his own residence studio after I interviewed him for “Western Stars” in 2019 — and the prospect of a biopic uniquely tailor-made to a few of Springsteen’s persevering with obsessions, pursuits, and neuroses is especially interesting to me. And, primarily based on the overall queries I’ve made from different Bruce followers, that holds true for them, too.
(Enjoyable reality: Ehrlich’s older brother is a Springsteen freak who has seen him in live performance so many instances that he’s pushing triple digits together with his rely. Once I requested David if Steven is worked up to see the movie, he stated he was “frothing on the mouth.”) Now that’s an viewers to financial institution on and enchantment to.
These aren’t the individuals who want a trailer or a clip or a title that simplifies what they’re going to see (or, if we’re being extra candid about it, simply sort of lies about it). These are the individuals who will come a number of instances, inform their fellow followers to test it out, to champion it. They’re Bruce followers; dedication is a part of their DNA. Don’t ever rely them out. Just like the Boss, they’re more durable than the remainder. Promoting this movie to them doesn’t need to be.
A twentieth Century Launch, “Springsteen: Ship Me from Nowhere” hits theaters on Friday, October 24.
