4/5
Springsteen On Highway.
80 Mins. Starring: Bruce Springsteen. Director: Bruce Springsteen & Thom Zimny.
Look up with weary revelry from the highways of your drive all night in your top down American muscle on this 66 like hustle and the road map you've been searching for on all these long and windings may just lead you up to the endless heavens. That's where in the middle of this desert deserted Kerouac beat road were you were born to run you can see all the stars that shine like the neon skyscrapers that half awake blink a million miles away. Thats where in the middle of this concrete paved path you'll see these 'Western Stars' and the friend serving as driver and narrator you're riding shotgun with, The Boss, Bruce Springsteen. And boy does the man from New Jersey still have a story to tell on this Springsteen to the American dream. Off from his billion dollar Broadway run in association with the Netflix streaming service that can even turn De Niro into a young 'Irishman', Springsteen leaves New York like R.E.M. said was never easy and hits the open road like Jack for what might be his most personal project since deep in depression and divorce he drove through a 'Tunnel Of Love' with a 'Brilliant Disguise' on 'Valentine's Day'. Navigating the twists and turns of love and life with no more J. Blige drama, but the soul of Dylan introspection trading electric for going acoustic, The Boss of all bosses (sorry, not so much, Rick Ross) Summertime 'Western Stars' set was one of Bruce's best. As nostalgic majestic as the nag that galloped on the amazing artwork. But if you though that was a perfect picture than you key in the ignition ain't seen nothing yet. As revving this project back up to close out with a fork in the road left turn the year and decade he's redefined with his own personal redefinition, Springsteen alongside frequent collaborator Thom Zimny ('Springsteen On Broadway') has made his directorial debut with the 'Western Stars' concert movie. One which going against the mystifying INXS 'Live Baby Live' 1991, Wembley, London stadium show from the amazing Aussie ruling rockers to accompany the 'Mystify' Michael Hutchence lovers tell all documentary film shown on limited screens all around the world, showstopping show these 'Stars' are much more than just gigs on the big screen in concert with anniversary cash grab opportunity. Although the boot strapped, blue workman dream may be denim wearing thin, Bruce reveals his true self in a way we've never seen or heard before from the living legend with the other great American songbook.
Roadside walk into any accompanying, vintage Americana bar on your road and you just may barstool see him just sitting there breaking complimentary nuts like he does the backs and spirits of the demons in his rearview in these ghosts of Christmas past. The 'Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town' singer who has three verses and a chorus in his back pocket for any season or reason, gives you one for the Autumn of your life between the Spring in your 'steen step and the fall were more than you first thought or dreaded just slips through your fingers like the sinks water, as you wash your hands and the face that stares black to you in this bar bathroom's mirror wallpaper bordered by the graffiti of former lovers and Kings who once held a throne here for so long they thought it fitting to carve this proclamation into the foundation forever (did we just romanticise the longest date with the porcelain? Hey, some nights are just like that). All before you offer him another round for one last drink and toast to all he left behind as he hits the stage of an amazing acoustic and beautiful barn befitting for the perfect wedding if you and yours make it that far down the road in Colts Neck, Jersey. But the track by track songs on concert aren't the biggest draw to all this great American worlds stage via the old familiar lane of E Street. It's what inspiringly interlude weaves like a highway in between. Wise words have never been so retrospectively spoken in this nuanced narration, not for his classic catalogue, but the shape of his heart and life that wrote the pages. This may ponder more than you and your lover over what you're having for dinner (who cares...just be with each other), but what's so good about motoring forward without rearview retrospect looking back? The idea that you have no idea where you're heading if you can't remember where you came from is only a cliche because it's as true as the lines in your hands or the shadows that circle around the souls of your eyes. And this one is two coins away from your rights of passage in this life. There's nothing wrong with looking inward to better ourselves see what we can give out to others. Even a million selling, all American hero like Springsteen can confront his corruptions and wrestle with his demons, because no one's perfect. The only perfection is over your former self, not your fellow man and like a saying as golden as that this true testament would only be the self indulgence of a narcissist if it was just for him. But hasn't Bruce offered us a workman's helping hand and seat in his pooled car all his long and winding life as America's Lennon? From the Jersey boy boardwalk to his first love that he's still singing about...his car. What would he or we (even this writer that still shamefully doesn't drive) on our individual journeys be without it and its romantic metaphors together through this life like the black and white backseat of some late Bob Dylan classics, gunning like a McQueen 'Bullit' away from those suicide machines?
'Hitch Hikin'' like a 'Wayferer' and riding a 'Tuscon Train' to these 'Western Stars' with only the 'Stones' you gave me. Driving fast like 'The Stuntman', 'Chasin' Wild Horses' all the way to 'Sleepy Joe's Cafe' at 'Sundown', before saying 'Hello Sunshine' to a 'Moonlight Motel', 'Somewhere North of Nashville'. 'There Goes My Miracle' with a rhinestone Glen Campbell encore cover. Shot after shot, Springsteen raises it up encore after encore as he barn dances through every track of his new, instant vintage classic with the horse power of a 30 piece strong orchestra and his wife Patti, just a calender after it was just him and his guitar (and of course one more from his baby on the road) like my rifle, pony and me on the stage of stages in the bright lights of the big city. Singing from the same songsheet of the guy who goes three hours night after night (like you only wish you could), giving his all like LeBron James, no load management because (and I'm paraphrasing more than somewhat here), "there could be some kid sitting in the audience, coming to see me for the first time after saving up all their hard earned money, so I can't take a night off." But bordered between these pieces of profound prose from the road is some personal portraits for the perfect photo album to accompany this musical accompaniments journey journal. And from stetson to steed and all that highway lassoing horse power, some classic cinematography imagery that is so moviemaking canon you could tone it sepia, as this roadmap takes us from classic California dreams to U2's Joshua Tree. After the brilliant British, 'Blinded By The Light' love essay to Springsteen's music made for a Elton John, 'Rocketman', Beatles, 'Yesterday' and George Michael 'Last Christmas' tribute year of Britpop blockbusters, Springsteen adds a second cinematic adventure to his legend and the legacy making of a potential second career as a different type of auteur as director. The American West hasn't been this iconic since John Wayne shot the same stuntman Springsteen sings about for a thousand drinks of his liquid supper. And off that one story this book is as open as the road. As this road resonates like your own one heart and soul, pedal to the metal. Even for this writer feeling so good to be home for the holidays in between his travelling tour of the Far East, lost in Tokyo's Translation. Jet-lag waking up hours before everyone else with the morning, putting this film on with the Christmas lights. Illuminating all that's past with nostalgia and the road ahead with a pilgrims hope. In the end this is Springsteen's story and his journey, but like sticking out our thumb down the road it's for us too as he opens the door and with a welcoming hand offers us a seat. At least for the "where you headed", next couple of states of Grace. In the land of hope and dreams the man who once told us, "you'll need a good companion for this part of the ride" is exactly that with his hand firmly on the wheel of the poetry of his runaway American dream. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Springsteen On Broadway', 'Blinded By The Light', 'Rolling Thunder Revue'.
