It’s nothing short of a miracle that this movie exists.
Blinded by the Light is unashamedly in complete reverence of the music of Bruce
Springsteen. If I wasn’t a zealot myself, I’d probably call it propaganda. But
as one of the indoctrinated, I look at this film and find immense comfort by
this big budget illustration that so many people feel the same way about
Springsteen as I do.
“Bruce is the direct line to all that is true in this sh****
world,” says a character early in the film. And man does this film believe it. This
is the kind of film with such earnest conviction that the lyrics of “The
Promised Land” bring salvation to a listless teen, the lyrics of “Prove it all
Night” explain young love and the lyrics of “Badlands” can back down a bully.
Oh, what a world to be inside for the two blissful hours of Blinded by the
Light’s running time.
Springsteen fans of all ages and walks of live owe it to
themselves to watch Blinded by the Light and surrender to its optimism. The
next best thing to seeing it in the movie theater with the surround sound and
communal audience experience is this pristine Blu-ray transfer. And, for the
diehards, the glimpses at behind-the-scenes filmmaking and three extended
scenes in the Special Features will be a delight.
I look at this film’s production value and its wide release and
marvel that so many people would come together for this labor of love. It
instills hope in the promise of cinema as a unifying medium.
