Springsteen Biopic’s Condiment Mix-up Sparks Buzz Among Fans
A Springsteen superfan pointed up a shocking mistake in Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, which opened last month. Biopics typically take creative liberties, but this one highlights something the Springsteen fan recognized instantly.
In Nebraska, about Springsteen’s 1982 album tour, a youngster asks a female if she wants mustard or ketchup on her hot dog. When she chooses mustard, Springsteen says he prefers it. The viewer’s antennae rose.
At NYFF, GenZBruceFan saw the film seven times and identified the problem. She sensed disaster immediately. In person, Springsteen hates mustard. Allegedly, “I don’t like mustard!” was played in 2016. I loathe it on hot dogs and sandwiches.” His film assertion about liking mustard contrasts his true statement.
A superfan remarked this didn’t affect her film enjoyment. She loved the film’s emotional depth and visual authenticity, but she would have changed things if she were in charge. Her reaction shows Springsteen devotees study his background, history, and habits.
The film covers Springsteen’s New Jersey childhood, inner strife, and stripped-down “Nebraska” recording. Rock-star biopics’ dazzle is less important than mood and interiority. Even in that solemn environment, one observant audience member laughed at the mustard sentence.
Contemporary cinema enthusiasts engage like this. When viewers know their topic, even small gestures and eating habits are examined. The filmmakers undoubtedly added the hot-dog scene between Springsteen and a girl to portray connection or normalcy, but ardent fans saw it as a test of sincerity.
The film’s performances, tone, mood, and depiction of Springsteen’s creative drought and emotional journey exceed its slight errors. However, the mustard moment shows how observant modern viewers are and how little differences matter.
The mustard mistake may be overlooked once the video is distributed and viewers grow beyond aficionados. Those who know every song, riff, and Springsteen’s life enjoyed the Easter egg. It shows the challenge of dramatizing reality without losing detail.
