Throughout the movie, there is an unexpressed gnawing at what was going on with Bruce and this is the movie’s biggest appeal. “The River” had been spun many times on my turntable as a teen so it was fitting for me that the film kicked off while winding up the tour supporting “The River”. He was primed to move into superstardom in 1981 with a follow up and everyone around him knew it. However; Bruce became introspective.
He had found a platform of expression. He was now sitting in a sweet spot yet demons lurked. He had the freedom to shift with a loyal articulate manager at his side equipped to handle pleas from a label excited to produce the next platinum record. Bruce revisited darkness from his early Nebraskan days.
The sound needed rawness not appealing to recording engineers. Technology’s limitations arose as a subtext. Emotions ran hot. The label was not. Events all unfolded with drama backstage.
In particular, actor Jeremy Strong (manager / producer) was outstanding. The movie is worthwhile because it goes to a place where we all long. That is, the deeper construct of our manifested selves.