海角大神

Documentaries about performing artists are only as interesting as the artists being documented. In the case of 鈥淩oad Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band,鈥� one needn鈥檛 fret. The Boss is entirely captivating.

So is the movie 鈥� sort of. Directed by longtime Springsteen documentarian Thom Zimny, it chronicles the worldwide concert tour of the E Street Band in 2023 after a six-year hiatus from performing in front of a live audience.

On the downside, we are subjected to way too many close-ups of adoring fans blissing out. Concert movies, especially ones like this that are essentially authorized by the artists, often skirt hagiography. 鈥淩oad Diary鈥� frequently tips over the edge.

On the plus side, we get a front-row seat, often closer than that, to some of the wowiest concerts ever committed to film. With ticket prices being what they are these days, this is no small benefit. (Think of all the Swifties who had to 鈥渟ettle鈥� for the 鈥淓ras Tour鈥� documentary.)

Another plus: Streaming the film at home means that, without the surrounding roar of the fans, you might actually be able to hear the songs. You also won鈥檛 have to be standing up the whole time to see the stage.

The documentary is being publicized as the most in-depth cinematic look ever at Springsteen and the workings of his band. I suppose that鈥檚 true, although his 2016 memoir 鈥淏orn to Run鈥� and his subsequent solo show on Broadway were more personally revelatory.聽

Scant mention is made of his disbanding the band prior to its regrouping. Longtime collaborator Steven Van Zandt鈥檚 feuds with Springsteen are skimped. Along with many of Springsteen鈥檚 other collaborators, Van Zandt is featured heavily in 鈥淩oad Diary,鈥� and mostly he鈥檚 on his best behavior. He does throw in one telling gibe, though, noting that Springsteen now dubs him the band鈥檚 music director 鈥� 鈥渟ome 40 years too late, but who鈥檚 counting?鈥� Well, uh, he is.

Van Zandt also mentions that when he and his boyhood friend were growing up in New Jersey, Springsteen was 鈥渢he most introverted guy you ever met.鈥� This observation doesn鈥檛 exactly align with the early firebrand who would literally throw himself into the audience during concerts. But it makes sense. Great showbiz performers, many of whom struggle with stage fright, often only come alive on stage. The spotlight is their cue to shine.

In 鈥淩oad Diary,鈥� which also includes archival and rehearsal footage, Springsteen is afforded ample time to be contemplative. He bemoans the loss of veteran band musicians Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici. Patti Scialfa, his wife and bandmate, talks about her battle with cancer. The rocker ruminates on the passage of time.聽

鈥淎fter 50 years on the road,鈥� says the 74-year-old, 鈥渋t鈥檚 too late to stop now. I plan on continuing until the wheels come off and for as long as the audience will follow me.鈥�

When I saw this film at the Toronto Film Festival, I wrote that a great documentary could be made 鈥渁bout the ways in which still-performing rock 鈥檔鈥� rollers like Springsteen and the Rolling Stones have transitioned into seniority.鈥澛�

鈥淩oad Diary鈥� isn鈥檛 that film, but it carries wisps of a larger subject. Obviously what keeps these artists going 鈥� Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson are other prime examples 鈥� is something far more deep-seated than financial gain or mere adulation. I suspect it鈥檚 more like a sense of gratitude for the gifts they have been given and are still able to share. The gratitude runs both ways.聽

Peter Rainer is the Monitor's film critic.聽鈥淩oad Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band鈥� is rated TV-MA, for mature audiences. It is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu starting Oct. 25.