Finding out more about the musical greats is a necessity in understanding where their inspiration comes from. For some, the lack of detail is all part of the charm – as it was for Leonard Cohen and is for Bob Dylan. But others, like Bruce Springsteen, are comfortably open about what they want from their music and how they go about getting it. This inspires an openness to one of the greats, and for Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, there is an expectation of new thoughts from The Boss. His recent tour was based on giving back to an audience before it was too late. Springsteen has become a self-referential lyricist, letting his voice tell tales of death and fear. He is in the twilight years, make no mistake about it. But Road Diary hears his intentions to keep going until the wheels fall off.
Unfortunately for this withered and unremarkable documentary, the engine is busted and the wheels are flat. Road Diary is nothing more than extensive concert coverage with very little in the way of actual detail. It is a passive documentary which happened to have cameras in the stadiums and theatres where the band runs through their hits. All that comes from this documentary is the same information you can expect to be given on the press circuit. As such, Road Diary feels like a fly-on-the-wall experience in an empty room. Springsteen and the band are holding back and apart from some choice words from Garry Tallent, there is little in the way of interest. Even for The Boss’ hardcore collective, little of interest abounds. What we gather from Road Diary can already be heard in his music, particularly these recent releases.
But it is a welcome, coddled dud of a documentary. Springsteen is a legend of the stage and Road Diary hopes to preserve him as all his fans do. They want him to keep going for as long as they can and to derail his focus from touring with a documentary format, which does not get close to speaking earnestly on Springsteen bar from a few crowbarred history lessons, is somewhat inevitable. They do not tap into the energy which forms a typical Springsteen show despite showing endless reels of footage from his early days to now. Even when capturing the hearts of his fans, and the desire to see him live, something is missing entirely. Road Diary is merely cold observations on a musician who has afforded heartfelt songs for decades.
All Road Diary can do is repeat and regurgitate. Stevie Van Zandt is an amicable draw as an interviewee but Disciple, the documentary focusing on his career, will tell you more about the dynamic between Springsteen, and Springsteen himself, than Road Diary ever dares try. This is a diary by definition, where our innermost thoughts and understandings, our doubts and worries, go to rest. For Springsteen, the worries are obvious – how long does he have left on the road? For Road Diary to tiptoe around the issue and still present the optimism of “he will go on forever,” is shortsighted. It marks an ineffective discussion on the very real and heartbreaking inevitabilities which come from a touring musician. Springsteen will ride the live wave until he drops. Road Diary is scared to pierce the heart of a message of its own making.
