After a two-hour deep dive into his most vulnerable moments on screen, Bruce Springsteen graced the stage at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center. With unwavering resolve, he addressed the pressing issues he observes in a deeply divided nation, speaking out against what he termed “dangerous times” and responding to recent personal threats from President Trump.
His powerful address marked a significant point in a journey that started almost 43 years ago, the very era depicted in his new film, ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.’ This intense and raw drama chronicles the making of Springsteen’s 1982 album ‘Nebraska’ and his personal struggles with depression.
After the star-studded festival screening, Springsteen reflected on his career, stating, “I spent my life on the road, moving around as kind of a musical ambassador for America, trying to measure the distance between American reality where we’ve often fallen short of our ideals, and the American dream.”
Despite feeling “battered right now,” he affirmed that America remains “a land of hope and dreams, not of fear, or divisiveness, or government censorship, or hatred — that America is worth fighting for.”
Then, taking up what he affectionately calls “my lifelong weapon of choice, the guitar,” Springsteen launched into his enduring anthem, “Land of Hope and Dreams.” This powerful song, a hymn for the country, encourages keeping the American dream alive and resonates deeply, despite predating the current political climate.
Springsteen’s remarks on stage echoed a powerful message he delivered during his European tour earlier in the year. The legendary songwriter, renowned for chronicling the challenges of American life, expressed growing concern during his May tour stops about the escalating political tensions and the authoritarian tendencies he perceived from the White House, which notably provoked criticism from Mr. Trump.
On Sunday evening, Springsteen reiterated these warnings.
He emphasized, “These days, you know, we have daily events reminding us of the fact that we’re living through these particularly dangerous times.”
The New York Film Festival screening itself felt like a grand Hollywood premiere, infused with a distinct Springsteen spirit. E Street Band members Stevie Van Zandt and Max Weinberg walked the red carpet alongside the film’s stars: Jeremy Allen White, portraying Springsteen; Stephen Graham, playing his father; and Odessa Young, cast as his love interest, Faye.
In a brief interview, Jeremy Allen White described the film as partly a testament to the love and unwavering loyalty shared between Springsteen and his longtime manager, Jon Landau. Despite performing many of the songs himself in the movie, the actor candidly admitted he wouldn’t be forming his own band anytime soon.
With a playful smirk, White confessed, “I didn’t learn how to play guitar, I learned how to play Bruce Springsteen songs. So I need to go learn to play the guitar again if I were going to start my own band.”
Notable attendees included Trey Anastasio, the Phish guitarist, a New Jersey native whose first concert was a Springsteen performance. Also on the carpet was Jeremiah Fraites of The Lumineers, another New Jersey native who composed the film’s score. Fraites revealed he crafted the movie’s soundtrack using an assortment of unconventional instruments, including a piano he called “firewood” and the exact model of tape recorder Springsteen famously used for “Nebraska.”
Just before the screening commenced, Springsteen energetically entered, arriving alongside Jon Landau, his manager and close friend. Their enduring partnership and bond are central themes in both the film and Springsteen’s remarkable career.
Navigating the rope line with ease, Springsteen and Landau encountered Stevie Van Zandt and his wife, Maureen. This impromptu reunion sparked a joyous cheer from Springsteen, who warmly pulled Van Zandt into a photograph with Mr. Landau—a quintessential Hollywood snapshot of ‘The Boss’ surrounded by two of his most trusted and enduring companions.
After the film, director Scott Cooper introduced Landau, remarking, “We would all be better off if we had a Jon Landau in our life.”
Cooper then shared a deeply personal anecdote with the audience: during the film’s production, he received news that his home was engulfed in the Palisades fire. While swiftly arranging a hotel for his family, Springsteen stepped in, insisting they stay at his nearby residence.
Before his performance, Springsteen extended heartfelt gratitude to the cast. He praised Jeremy Allen White for pouring “his whole heart and soul into the part” and “playing a much better looking version of me.” He thanked Jeremy Strong for his “creativity and his inspiration,” noting how Strong had them on the phone “all hours of the night with different ideas,” and for “playing a much, much better looking Jon Landau.” To Stephen Graham, he expressed appreciation for “being the living embodiment of my late father, who had a very difficult life, but was a good, good hearted man.” And to Gaby Hoffmann, he offered thanks for “a wonderful portrayal of my mom.”
Reflecting on his parents, Springsteen shared, “And you know, they’re all gone now. So it’s nice to have this piece of film.”
As “Land of Hope and Dreams” reached its powerful crescendo, Springsteen allowed the final chord to resonate, its notes lingering across the packed auditorium of over a thousand people. He then returned to the microphone for a concluding message.
His final words were a simple yet resonant call to action: “Stay strong.”