A must for all Bruce Springsteen fans.
When the 2020 pandemic hit, obviously concerts were cancelled too, and people took delicate steps in making sure things would be back to normal again. Even at his age of 75, Bruce Springsteen still has the voice for singing and his love for his fans, which is why he and the E Street Band were preparing for the 2023-24 tour. That’s the subject for the new made-for-Hulu and Disney+ documentary “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.”
We see the high spirits within Springsteen, his wife Patti Scialfa, and Steven Van Zandt, among the remaining E Street Band members, as they all perform during rehearsal and on stage. When they see their fans eager to hear their music, you know they’re happy. And when they pray before a show, you know things are going to work out.
We also hear some insights from the band, about how Springsteen was able to keep the music spirit alive. You know back in the 70s, when he became a music legend. Some of the singers have passed away, and others are still willing to honor their work and commitment. And we hear how his wife was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and must be careful what she does and where she performs.
And what’s further proof of the film’s heart is the insight we hear from his fans. None of them are crazy or desperate, but they’ve been listening to him their whole lives, and they hope he can keep on doing it, and so do we. There isn’t a shed of mean-spiritedness, which is quite refreshing.
Back in 2019, I’ve enjoyed two different kinds of Springsteen films. One was “Blinded by the Light,” which was about an English-Pakistani lad who fell in love with the singer’s music, and “Western Stars,” which was a concert film that allows the singer to fight his demons by providing the lyrics and vocal chords. And now, this year, we have “The Greatest Night in Pop,” which was the doc about the recording of “We Are the World” with him and many singers performing it, and “Road Diary,” which celebrates the singer and the people around him. As a New Jersey resident, it’s easy for me to feel the vibe and magic of Springsteen and his impact in the music industry and people. But even if I lived in New York, Chicago, or San Francisco, it still wouldn’t make any difference.
Director Thom Zimny, who has collaborated with Bruce Springsteen before on music videos and concert films, captures the energy and heart before and during the musical performances. Not all the segments work, but there’s a lot to keep fans watching, listening, and maybe even dancing if they have the moves. It reflects on what makes music music and what makes Springsteen Springsteen. And even if you’re cleaning your kitchen or reading a book, you can still hear what’s going on, and still be entertained and touched.
In recent memory, “Joker: Folie a Deux” has bombed with critics and movie-goers in theaters, mostly because of the fan base, which isn’t fond of superhero musicals. At least that’s what I’m hearing. My criticism was the great cynicism and the misguided direction within that mess. But “Road Diary,” which makes the smarter choice of going online, has no cynicism and it isn’t made as a cash grab. But rather, it focuses on the heart and must make sure its voice gets heard. It represents the positivity of the journey, and given what society deals with, we need some more positivity. This is a film you want to take to the Promised Land.
Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu