Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

What’s the old saying?  There is no ‘joy’ in Joisey, but there is Asbury Park, the Stone Pony, Atlantic City and the Boss.  God bless you Jeremy Allen White—you had big shoes to fill and you did it.  For better or worse, this is the story/recollection of the making of the album titled Nebraska released September 30, 1982 (my 30th birthday)  We’re taken back to Bruce’s childhood and given a glimpse at his lifelong struggle to deal with his abusive father, the pressures of fame, relationships, and depression.  He’s in a creative bunker situation and his solution to taking off the mental handcuffs is a little bit of genius.  For those of you who didn’t experience this decade as a teenager or an adult, it may strike you as odd, but to me it makes sense.  There are a plethora of songs performed by Jeremy and Bruce plus a number of era hits that settle us comfortably into the timeframe.  It’s honestly very difficult to tell if it’s real or Memorex. Soundtrack sil vous please. So glad the Boss didn’t succumb to his demons and continues to carry the real heartbeat of America.  Rating:  a pair of Levi 501’s, a white sleeveless t-shirt, a bandana and a kick-ass mix-tape — 3.75 stars

One Battle After Another

Jumping into the fray.  Our “hero” is a former underground radical revolutionist unexpectedly taking on the responsibilities of safely raising and protecting his daughter from his past.  An ultra conservative captain hellbent on ending any association he may have or had with said hero’s equally radical girlfriend and subsequent daughter, is the focus of Bob’s wild ride.  It’s sixteen years later and time and drugs have taken their toll.  Looking at this in a slightly twisted way, this qualifies as a Christmas movie in the same way as say, Die Hard or The Long Kiss Goodnight.  There’s dark humor and seriously scary moments that this writer got the feeling that the current administration may have been privy to a preview of this film and took it to heart instead of dealing with reality.  It’s edge of your seat tension, a kick-ass soundtrack, and roller coaster ups and downs.  Kudos to Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina King, Sean Penn, Benecio Del Toro, Teyana Taylor, and newcomer Chase Infiniti.  In the words of the late, great Gil Scot Heron…the revolution will not be televised.  Rating:  3.75 stars  Thank you Sensei.