In the early eighties, the musician Bruce Springsteen and his career were at a crossroads. He had strong career momentum with the success of his Born To Run album in 1975 and The River in 1980, but he was far from a happy man. He was struggling, and those were the days when people’s mental health was not a comfortable topic of conversation. 

He felt he had something dark and deeply personal to share with his audience, and this set of songs eventually became the album Nebraska. It was unconventionally recorded (at home in his bedroom and onto a cassette recorder) and presented to his record label with instructions to release no singles and with no touring to support it. In a nod to his and manager Jon Landau’s power, the label went against their strong sense of self-interest and complied.

This story is presented in a bleak manner that strays far from overstatement and relies heavily on its excellent cast. Of particular note is Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) as Bruce; he gets the nuances just right, and his emotive expressions say so much while presenting so little. The support cast of Jeremy Strong as Landau, Odessa Young as on and off girlfriend Faye Romano and Stephen Graham as Springsteen’s abusive and troubled father, who also suffered from mental health issues, are superlative.

While not being particularly fun to watch, the emotions on display are raw and feel real, and its underlying message of acknowledging and looking after one’s mental health is an important one. We are slowly making progress in that struggle, and works like this will help to keep that dialogue alive, but keep in mind that this is also a very effective piece of storytelling. One that features amazing performances and exceptional technical execution.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ/

Joaquin Phoenix is Johnny, an audio documentarian who is traveling around the country interviewing young people to get their take on some of life’s biggest questions. He seems inward-facing and somewhat broken. He visits his estranged sister Viv (Gaby Hoffmann) and her son Jesse (Woody Norman).

The relationship between the two siblings is frosty and when Viv has to travel to look after her husband, Jesse’s father, Johnny is tasked with looking after Jesse. The young boy is very precocious and more than a handful. The film unfolds in a most naturalistic way and the developing relationship between Jesse and Johnny pulls both of them out of the darkness.

The storytelling feels free from contrivances and you as a member of the audience are invited to join in on a most intimate journey. Both of these human beings have suffered but the relationship that develops between the two uses their trauma as fuel for introspection and healing. This life lesson is delivered most masterfully.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/transmissionfilms/