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Saturday, July 20, 2013

'Springsteen & I' music doc in theaters Monday



Bruce Springsteen and his fans have a special relationship - one which goes beyond your average musician.

That bond is the crux of a fine new documentary, “Springsteen & I,” arriving in U.S. cinemas on Monday, July 22 for a single night screening.

It will be shown again the following Tuesday, July 30 (both at 7:30 p.m. local time).

Directed by Baillie Walsh and executive produced by Ridley Scott Associates, the film was narrowed down more than 2000 fan video submissions (YouTube, cell phone, camera, Skype) to a few dozen from America and Europe.

Walsh got full cooperation from the Springsteen organization, so he was able to utilize professional concert footage as well as material from The Boss archives alongside the amateur clips.

Everything opens with Springsteen & The E Street Band onstage at last year’s Hard Rock Calling concert in London’s Hyde Park. During a mid-song testimonial, the singer/guitarist asks the crowd, “can you feel the spirit?” For the next 77 minutes, Springsteen enthusiasts explain how the musician moves them, either choosing three words or elaborating.

Some people get emotional while telling their stories; others are humorous (the husband dragged to several shows by his wife; a woman and her grade school age son in a brief post-show encounter; an Elvis impersonator who was invited onstage).

A few of the fans’ submissions are quite elaborate. Walsh does a good job at transitioning some concert clips thematically with various experiences. Many will be familiar to fellow Boss Tramps and have them nodding in agreement.

Among the concert clips are partial performances of “Growing Up,” “Racing in the Street,” “Thunder Road,” “Candy’s Room,” “Mansion on the Hill,” “Factory,” "Born in the USA," "Dancing in the Dark," “Blood Brothers” and “Red-Headed Woman.”

“Born to Run” plays over the end credits in a past-to-present montage.

The cinema screening concludes with a bonus 46 minutes of footage encompassing a six song sample from the rainy Wrecking Ball festival appearance at Hard Rock Calling and Paul McCartney’s fun guest spot, plus an epilogue with fans included in the film. "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Because the Night" (containing Nils Lofgren's amazing guitar solo) are standouts.

Purchase film tickets: fathomevents.com/#!springsteen-and-i

Official site: SpringsteenAndI.com



Twitter: twitter.com/SpringsteenAndI   #SpringsteenAndI 

“Springsteen & I" is distributed by Fathom Events.

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